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ICJ Rules Israel Must Allow Gaza Aid and Work With UNRWA

Israel rejects the non-binding opinion, increasing pressure for expanded relief access.

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Presiding Judge Iwasawa Yuji, second from the right, starts reading the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, on Wednesday.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) gathers to issue an advisory opinion assessing the legal consequences of Israeli restrictions on United Nations (UN) agencies in the Hague, Netherlands on October 22, 2025. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images)
ICJ judges deliver a non-binding advisory opinion on Israel's obligations regarding the presence and activities of the United Nations and other international actors in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Overview

  • The advisory opinion says Israel, as the occupying power, must ensure essentials such as food, water, shelter, fuel and medical care and facilitate UN-led humanitarian operations, including UNRWA.
  • Judges found Israel had not substantiated claims of widespread Hamas infiltration at UNRWA and said the agency cannot be replaced on short notice without a transition plan.
  • The court reiterated that using starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited and that Israel must not impede the provision of life‑sustaining supplies.
  • The ruling passed 10–1, with ICJ Vice President Julia Sebutinde dissenting over the court’s handling of UNRWA allegations.
  • Israel denounced the opinion and said it will not cooperate with UNRWA, while WFP reports roughly 530 trucks and more than 6,700 tonnes of food since the ceasefire—about 750 tonnes per day versus a 2,000‑tonne target—with Norway saying it will seek a UN General Assembly resolution to ease restrictions.