Overview

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun hearings to examine Israel's legal obligations to ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza, following a UN resolution from December 2024.
• The State of Palestine is the first to present its case, with 38 additional countries and organizations, including the US, China, and the Arab League, scheduled to testify.
• Israel has maintained a total blockade on international aid to Gaza since March 2, exacerbating what the UN describes as the territory's worst humanitarian crisis.
• UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini has condemned the situation as a politically motivated, man-made famine, with 500,000 Palestinians displaced since hostilities resumed on March 18.
• While ICJ advisory opinions are nonbinding, they are expected to heighten international diplomatic pressure on Israel to address the dire conditions in Gaza.