Background on Key Figures and Relevance
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, recently issued a non-binding opinion regarding Israel’s obligations towards the Gaza Strip population. This advisory opinion, requested by the UN, carries significant legal weight and moral authority despite not being legally binding.
Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated to ensure the basic needs of Gaza’s population, according to the ICJ. The court emphasized that Israel must facilitate humanitarian aid entry, including assistance from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa dismissed any links between Israeli officials and Hamás.
António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, urged Israel to respect the court’s conclusions. Meanwhile, Norway announced its intention to introduce a resolution in the General Assembly demanding the removal of restrictions on humanitarian aid.
ICJ’s Statement and Israel’s Response
The ICJ stated that Israel cannot employ starvation as a “method of war.” However, Israel rejected the decision, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein labeling it as “predictable” and another attempt to enforce policies against Israel under the guise of international law.
UN Special Rapporteur’s Criticism of the Ceasefire Agreement
Insufficient Ceasefire Plan
In parallel, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese criticized the US-backed ceasefire agreement as “inadequate.” She asserted that Israel’s Gaza offensive constitutes “genocide” and accused the US and Israel of leading this genocide while undermining the multilateral system.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the ICJ’s opinion on Israel’s responsibilities in Gaza? The ICJ stated that Israel, as an occupying power, must ensure the basic needs of Gaza’s population and cannot use starvation as a method of war.
- How did Israel respond to the ICJ’s opinion? Israel rejected the decision, calling it predictable and another attempt to enforce policies against it using international law as a pretext.
- What is the UN Special Rapporteur’s stance on the ceasefire agreement? Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur, deemed the ceasefire plan insufficient and accused the US and Israel of leading a genocide in Gaza.
