UN Top Court Orders Israel Regarding Hunger Crisis in Gaza
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the top court of the United Nations, has unanimously ordered Israel not to obstruct the supply of relief materials to Gaza to save it from famine.-UN Top Court Orders Israel Regarding Hunger Crisis in Gaza
The ICJ emphasized that Israel should act promptly to maintain essential services and humanitarian aid in Gaza.
A recent warning had indicated that if humanitarian aid did not reach Gaza in time, famine could strike within a few weeks.
Israel has been accused of consistently obstructing humanitarian aid. However, it has dismissed these allegations.
Recently, South Africa accused Israel in the International Court of Justice of perpetrating genocide in Gaza.
While denying the allegations of genocide, Israel has blamed the United Nations for the difficulties in distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Before the recent ruling by the ICJ, the court had earlier urged Israel in January to make every possible effort to stop the incidents of genocide in Gaza.
However, although legally binding, the ICJ’s order does not empower the court to enforce it.
UN Top Court Orders Israel Regarding Hunger Crisis in Gaza
Hunger Deaths in Gaza
Last week, a report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Global Initiative warned of deteriorating conditions in Gaza. This global initiative is run by various food and humanitarian organizations.
The report stated that all 2.2 million people in Gaza are facing food shortages on a large scale, and it is estimated that famine could strike northern Gaza before the end of May.
In its order, the ICJ stated that Gaza is not just facing the threat of famine but is already grappling with it.
According to United Nations observers, 31 people, including 27 children, have already died from malnutrition and dehydration in Gaza.
The comments of Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, are also included in this, who had said last week that the famine and crisis were occurring because Israel had imposed a ban on large-scale humanitarian aid entering Gaza.
The decision also stated that Israel must ensure under the Genocide Convention that its army does not commit any act that violates the rights of Palestinians in Gaza.
UN Top Court Orders Israel Regarding Hunger Crisis in Gaza
Israel's Arbitrary Actions
In recent months, long queues of trucks carrying humanitarian aid have been repeatedly seen at the Egypt-Gaza border.
Israel is accused of arbitrarily inspecting humanitarian aid, which delays aid from reaching Gaza on time.
Last week, Israel refused to issue this new order from the ICJ. Israel argued that the allegations by South Africa were baseless.
Israel claims that most of the aid going to Gaza goes to Hamas, and what little is left is failing to be distributed properly among the civilians by the UN.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people. Hamas also took about 250 people with them as hostages to Gaza.
Since then, Israel has been targeting Hamas and launching ground and air attacks on Gaza.
According to the Health Ministry run by Hamas, Israeli attacks have killed at least 32,552 people in Gaza so far.
At the beginning of this month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that among the dead, more than 25,000 are women and children.