ICJ says Israel must permit UNRWA relief in Gaza and West Bank

The International Court of Justice on Wednesday advised that Israel must allow the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, to provide humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, ruling that Israel is obliged to agree to and facilitate U.N. relief efforts. The advisory opinion, delivered in The Hague, responds to a request from the U.N. General Assembly and comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza that took effect on October 10.

The court's president, Yuji Iwasawa, said "Israel is under the obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA." The ruling follows hearings in April in which more than 40 states and international organizations presented evidence on whether Israel had breached obligations to enable unhindered delivery of urgently needed supplies to Palestinian civilians. Israel did not participate in the oral hearings but submitted a 38 page written statement and has denied violating international law.

The case was prompted by Israel's decision last year to bar UNRWA from operating in Gaza. That move, implemented in January, came after Israeli leaders criticized the agency...