The United States maintains that Israel holds no obligation to collaborate with the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency.
MG SPARKTHE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The International Court of Justice is currently in session to discuss Israel's duty to aid Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This comes after a request for an advisory opinion from the U.N. General Assembly last year.
The U.S., during the hearings, expressed concerns about the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the largest provider of aid in Gaza, stating that Israel doesn't have to work with the organization if it compromises its security interests. Josh Simmons, a legal advisor from the State Department, argued, "There's no legal requirement for an occupying power to permit a specific third-party or international organization to conduct activities if it compromises its security."
Simmons proposed other organizations could take UNRWA's place. In January, Israel banned UNRWA from operating on its territory, alleging that many of its staff took part in Hamas attacks. However, UNRWA denied these claims, stating that they terminated nine employees after an internal investigation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the case, stating, "I accuse UNRWA, I accuse the U.N., I accuse the secretary-general and I accuse all those that weaponized international law to deprive Israel of its right to defend itself."
Russia, speaking after the U.S., stressed the importance of UNRWA's work for the Palestinian people and criticized Israel's ban on the agency. Maksim Musikhin, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the 15 judges, "Gaza balances on the brink of famine. Hospitals lie in ruins. Millions of Palestinians face existential despair." Musikhin even suggested UNRWA deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for its work.
The hearings come at a critical time, as the humanitarian aid system in Gaza nears collapse, and ceasefire efforts remain deadlocked. The World Food Program announced last week that its food stocks in Gaza have run out, leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians without a main source of sustenance.
Amidst this, the Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands accused Israel of breaching international law in the occupied territories, stating, "Israel is starving, killing, and displacing Palestinians while blocking humanitarian organizations trying to save their lives."
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Additional Insights:
- Participants: 40 states and four international organizations are presenting arguments, with the U.N. and Palestinian representatives speaking first. The U.S., Israel’s closest ally, is scheduled to participate on April 30.
- Focus: The hearings aim to clarify Israel’s legal obligations under international law, including its duty to facilitate humanitarian aid and its blockade on UNRWA’s operations.
- Outcome: A non-binding advisory opinion is expected months after the hearings conclude, which could influence international aid policies and increase pressure on Israel to allow aid into Gaza.
- The legal advisor from the State Department, Josh Simmons, supported Israel's position during the International Court of Justice hearings, stating that there's no legal requirement for an occupying power to work with specific third-party organizations like UNRWA if it compromises security interests.
- Russian representatives, speaking after the U.S. during the hearing, stressed the importance of UNRWA's work in Gaza and criticized Israel's ban on the agency, stating that Gaza lies on the brink of famine, with hospitals in ruins, and millions of Palestinians facing existential despair.
- Amidst the ongoing ICJ hearings, the Palestinian Ambassador to the Netherlands accused Israel of breaching international law in the occupied territories, claiming that Israel is starving, killing, and displacing Palestinians while blocking humanitarian organizations trying to save their lives.
- In a separate development, Portland Catholic school authorities called the police on parents over a racism dispute, expelling a Black student in the process, sparking controversy and investigation.
- In Seattle, the crime and justice department is investigating a local hospital for potential cover-ups amidst accusations of negligence leading to patient deaths.
- In Gaza, one of the world's largest providers of aid, UNRWA, is under scrutiny due to Israel's allegations of Hamas involvement among its staff, while the organization denies these claims and emphasizes its crucial role in the region, deserving recognition such as a Nobel Peace Prize for its work.
