The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began hearings on April 28, 2025, regarding Israel’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, with the U.N. and Palestinian representatives accusing Israel of violating international law. Since March 2, Israel has blocked all supplies to Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, leading to severe food shortages, reports Reuters.
At the hearing, U.N. legal counsel Elinor Hammarskjold emphasized that Israel, as an occupying force, has a clear obligation to facilitate humanitarian aid, including allowing U.N. entities to assist the local population. Palestinian representative Ammar Hijazi accused Israel of using aid as a “weapon of war,” exacerbating the crisis in Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the proceedings, calling the hearings a “circus” and accusing the U.N. of politicizing the issue. He also criticized the U.N. for not addressing alleged links between Hamas and staff members of the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).
The ICJ was tasked with forming an advisory opinion on Israel’s legal obligations to facilitate aid. The outcome, which is not binding, will likely take several months. While Israel insists it will not allow aid until Hamas releases all hostages, international calls for the unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid continue to grow.
