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ICJ Hearings Begin on Israel’s UNRWA Ban and Gaza Aid Blockade

Israel boycotts proceedings as 40 nations and UN legal counsel argue its obligations as an occupying power during a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice open hearings into a United Nations request for an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations to allow humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank, in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Ammar Hijazi (R), ambassador and permanent representative of the Palestinian Authority to international organizations in the Netherlands, looks on as he attends the ICJ hearing.
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Overview

  • The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun weeklong hearings to assess Israel’s obligations regarding its ban on the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the blockade of Gaza.
  • Israel has boycotted the hearings, dismissing them as biased, while submitting a written defense asserting that UNRWA is infiltrated by Hamas, a claim the agency denies.
  • The UN’s legal counsel emphasized that Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated to allow humanitarian aid to Gaza, where severe shortages have raised famine concerns.
  • The UN General Assembly requested the ICJ’s advisory opinion following Israel’s October 2024 law banning UNRWA and its March 2025 total blockade of Gaza.
  • Humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Programme, report that Gaza’s food supplies have been depleted, with international calls for aid access remaining unaddressed.