Gaza Herald – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to issue its ruling today, Wednesday, on whether Israel violated international law by imposing a months-long blockade that prevented humanitarian aid from entering besieged Gaza. The judges of the UN’s top judicial body will also assess Israel’s attacks on UN staff and facilities in the Strip.
The ruling comes in response to a request from the UN General Assembly, and will also determine whether Israel is legally obligated to cooperate with UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Despite overwhelming evidence of obstruction, Israel denies wrongdoing, claiming Hamas intercepted aid shipments, a narrative backed by the United States.
While the court’s opinion is advisory and non-binding, it carries significant political weight and could intensify global pressure on Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian access into Gaza. This decision marks the third ICJ ruling on Israel’s actions since its genocidal campaign against Gaza began on October 7, 2023.
In previous rulings, the ICJ found Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and ordered it to prevent acts of genocide, enable aid delivery, and preserve evidence of war crimes. However, with no enforcement mechanism, implementation has relied on international will, a test that the world’s justice system is once again facing today.
