International Court of Justice to Rule on Israel's Responsibilities in Gaza

Wed Oct 22 2025 22:34:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The ICJ is set to provide a significant advisory opinion on Israel's obligations to the UN and humanitarian agencies amidst ongoing tensions in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice will soon announce its opinion on Israel's responsibilities towards UN agencies operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Following a request from the UN General Assembly, the court will examine the legality of Israel's actions that restrict humanitarian aid and question whether these actions breach international law. With significant implications for both humanitarian efforts and international law, the ICJ's ruling is awaited with intense scrutiny.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is to deliver an advisory opinion on Israel's legal obligations towards UN agencies and other international organisations operating in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The UN's top court received a request from the General Assembly late last year, after Israel's parliament passed laws banning any activity by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) on Israeli territory and contact with Israeli officials.

Israel accused Unrwa of being infiltrated by Hamas. The agency denied the claim, insisting it was impartial.

The ICJ was also asked to cover in its opinion Israel's duty to allow the unhindered delivery of essential supplies to Palestinians.

Israel tightened its blockade on Gaza after the start of its war with Hamas two years ago and has since restricted - and at times completely stopped - the entry of food and other aid for the 2.1 million population. Before this month's ceasefire deal, UN-backed global experts had estimated that more than 640,000 people were facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity and that there was an entirely man-made famine in Gaza City. Israel rejected the findings, insisting it was allowing in sufficient food and blames Hamas for stealing aid.

The ICJ's panel of international judges was asked to clarify whether Israel's actions breach UN conventions guaranteeing the independence of its agencies and whether the restrictions on aid crossings violate international humanitarian law.

Israel has dismissed the court's involvement, claiming it undermines its right to self-defence against terrorism. Meanwhile, Unrwa's ability to operate and aid the Palestinian population has been significantly challenged following Israeli restrictions.

This situation marks a critical juncture, where the ICJ's forthcoming opinions could have profound implications for humanitarian law and the functioning of international institutions in conflict zones.