Global Muslim organization petitions international tribunal to compel Israel to lift limitations on UNRWA operations
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) unleashed a fiery indictment against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on a fateful Friday, demanding immediate intervention to safeguard the noble humanitarian missions of a United Nations agency in the embattled Palestinian territories, according to Anadolu's reports.
As the crisis in the Gaza Strip escalates to catastrophic proportions, with hunger rapidly spreading and Israel continuing its relentless onslaught on the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), the timing of the hearing could not have been more critical.
In a scathing condemnation, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Jerusalem Affairs, Ambassador Samir Diab, lambasted Israel's hostile policies towards UN agencies operating within Palestine and the Palestinian people themselves. He claimed Israel "revels in illegitimate laws that must be eradicated," and appealed to the global community to bolster UNRWA with additional political, legal, and financial support.
READ: Is it high time for Israel to respect the UN, its agencies, and facilitate relief efforts? That's Switzerland's stance at the ICJ**
The OIC official underscored the Court's impending wisdom on the matter, contending that it should compel "Israeli occupation" to reverse its unlawful legislation against UNRWA.
Diab poignantly highlighted the perilous circumstances in the occupied Palestinian territories, emphasizing the dire need to enforce Israel, as the occupying power, to finally and irrevocably halt its aggression.
He unequivocally condemned Israel's draconian policies of starvation and scorched earth tactics designed to forcibly exile Palestinians from their ancestral lands.
Since March 2, Israel has enforced a suffocating blockade on Gaza, denying essential supplies entry into the embattled enclave despite multiple reports of famine spreading throughout the war-ravaged territory.
The Israeli military resumed its aggression on Gaza on March 18, shattering a tenuous ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas that had previously been reached on January 19.
In excess of 52,000 Palestinians have been mercilessly slain in Gaza since October 2023, the majority of them being women and children.
READ: United States aligns with Israel in its ban on UNRWA Gaza aid operations at the ICJ**
ENRICHMENT INSIGHT: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began advisory proceedings on April 28, 2025, addressing Israel's obligations concerning the presence of UNRWA and other international organizations within the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Previously, the ICJ has ruled that Israel's assertion of sovereignty over such territories constitutes a breach of international law. Israel has banned UNRWA operations, alleging ties to Hamas among other reasons. Despite the ban, UNRWA continues limited operations in East Jerusalem, while Israeli actions have crippled its work in Gaza. Israel's actions against UNRWA are seen as incompatible with international law, leading to severe humanitarian consequences for the people in the Gaza Strip.
- The OIC strongly criticized Israel's policies towards UN agencies and Palestinians, calling for an end to illegitimate laws.
- Ambassador Samir Diab appealed to the global community to support UNRWA with additional political, legal, and financial aid.
- Diab urged the ICJ to compel Israel to reverse its unlawful legislation against UNRWA.
- The ICJ began advisory proceedings on Israel's obligations concerning UNRWA in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in April 2025.
- The ICJ has previously ruled that Israel's assertion of sovereignty over such territories violates international law.
- Israel has banned UNRWA operations, citing ties to Hamas and other reasons, but UNRWA continues limited operations in East Jerusalem.
- The crisis in Gaza has escalated, with hunger spreading rapidly and Israel continuing its onslaught on UNRWA.
- Since October 2023, over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with the majority being women and children.
- The Israeli military resumed its aggression on Gaza on March 18, 2025, shattering a ceasefire with Hamas.
- The United States has aligned with Israel in its ban on UNRWA Gaza aid operations at the ICJ.
- The necessity of Israel respecting the UN, its agencies, and facilitating relief efforts is a growing opinion in the general news and politics.
- The ongoing war and conflicts in Palestine are a subjects of crime and justice news, with international organizations under threat, especially UNRWA in Gaza.
