The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has initiated a five-day hearing to assess Israel’s humanitarian obligations towards Palestinians, amid a worsening crisis in Gaza and increasing global concern.
The hearings commenced on Monday in The Hague and are based on a United Nations General Assembly resolution proposed last year by Norway and several other nations.
This resolution sought the ICJ’s perspective on whether Israel has violated its commitments under the UN Charter by disregarding the protections granted to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
A key aspect of the case involves Israel’s enactment of two laws in October 2024, which severed its relationship with UNRWA, alleging that the agency was sheltering Hamas members.
These laws mandated the government to cease all collaboration with UNRWA, including the provision of visas for its international personnel, significantly impeding the delivery of aid to Gaza.
The hearing occurs amidst escalating warnings of famine in the besieged region. The Gaza Government Media Office reports that over 61,700 Palestinians have lost their lives due to Israel’s military operations, which are now in their 18th month, with many still unaccounted for beneath the debris.
Medical authorities in Gaza indicated that Israeli forces killed 23 Palestinians during early morning raids on Sunday, following a day in which at least 53 individuals were reported dead across the Strip.
Concurrently, the humanitarian crisis has worsened due to increasing regional violence. Media outlets linked to the Houthis reported that U.S. forces targeted a detention facility housing African migrants in northern Saada, Yemen, resulting in at least 68 fatalities and 47 injuries.
The hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are anticipated to include presentations from various nations. Initial statements are expected from countries that criticize Israel’s actions, while those that support Israel, such as the United States and Hungary, are slated to present later in the week.
On October 7, 2023, an estimated 1,139 individuals lost their lives in Israel due to the Hamas-led assault, which ignited the ongoing conflict. Additionally, over 200 people were taken hostage during these attacks.
After this week’s hearings, the ICJ is likely to take several weeks to consider the case before issuing its advisory opinion — a decision that, although not legally binding, may hold considerable political and diplomatic significance.
