The top United Nations court has warned Israel that it cannot use starvation as a method of warfare in Gaza, stressing that the occupying power must cooperate with UN agencies to ensure humanitarian access to the besieged enclave.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday issued a long-awaited advisory opinion stating that Israel is legally obligated to facilitate humanitarian aid in Gaza and that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) — the main UN body supporting Palestinian refugees — has not breached its neutrality.
“The occupying power may never invoke reasons of security to justify the general suspension of all humanitarian activities in occupied territory,” Judge Iwasawa Yuji said while delivering the opinion. “After examining the evidence, the court finds that the local population in the Gaza Strip has been inadequately supplied.”
The opinion came in response to a request from the UN General Assembly in December last year after Israel passed legislation banning UNRWA from operating within its borders — a move that severely restricted aid flows into Gaza.
Although the ICJ’s advisory opinion is non-binding, analysts say it adds to the growing body of legal findings against Israel that will weigh heavily in future international deliberations.
The advisory comes as reports from Al Jazeera, CNN, and BBC said Israeli forces killed at least one person on Wednesday in Gaza’s Tuffah district, despite the ceasefire. Dozens more have been killed since the truce took effect, with Palestinians saying little has changed on the ground as aid remains blocked and sporadic attacks continue.
Vance urges to hold ceasefire
US Vice President JD Vance reiterated his optimism about maintaining the ceasefire, now in its second week, as part of Washington’s efforts to end the two-year-long Israel-Gaza war.
“It’s not easy. I never said it was easy,” Vance told reporters. “But I am optimistic that the ceasefire will hold and that we can actually build a better future for the entire Middle East.”
When asked why the US was dispatching several high-level officials to Israel — including himself and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — Vance said, “It’s not about monitoring it like a toddler. It’s important for the administration to make sure our people continue doing what we need them to do.”
Majority of Americans back Palestinian statehood
A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows growing public support in the United States for recognising Palestinian statehood.
According to the six-day survey, which concluded on Monday, 59 percent of respondents said the US should recognise a Palestinian state, while 33 percent opposed the idea and the rest were undecided.
Among political groups, 80 percent of Democrats and 41 percent of Republicans backed recognition, while a majority of Trump-aligned Republicans — 53 percent — opposed it.
The findings come as a growing number of countries — including close US allies Britain, Canada, France, and Australia — have formally recognised Palestinian statehood in recent weeks, prompting strong condemnation from Israel.
