A senior Palestinian official on Monday accused Israel of utilizing the blockade of humanitarian assist to Gaza as a “weapon of war” in the course of the opening of a weeklong listening to on the International Court of Justice.
Israel will not be collaborating on the ICJ however hit again instantly, dismissing the hearings as “part of the systematic persecution and delegitimisation” of the nation.
The ICJ is listening to dozens of countries and organizations to attract up a so-called advisory opinion on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians, greater than 50 days into its whole blockage on assist coming into war-ravaged Gaza.
Top Palestinian official Ammar Hijazi advised judges that “all U.N.-supported bakeries in Gaza have been forced to shut their doors”.
“Nine of every 10 Palestinians have no access to safe drinking water. Storage facilities of the U.N. and other international agencies are empty,” added Hijazi.
“These are the facts. Starvation is here. Humanitarian aid is being used as a weapon of war,” concluded the Palestinian consultant.
Speaking in Jerusalem, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated the case in The Hague was “part of a systematic persecution and delegitimisation of Israel.”
“It is not Israel that should be on trial. It is the U.N. and UNRWA,” he advised reporters, referring to the United Nations assist company for Palestinian refugees.
Israel has banned UNRWA from working on Israeli soil, after accusing a number of the company’s workers of collaborating in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, incursion that sparked the battle.
Independent investigations say it has not supplied proof for its headline allegation.
UNRWA Secretary-General Philippe Lazzarini urged Israel “as an occupying power” to “provide services or facilitate their delivery – including through UNRWA – to the population it is occupying.”
‘Utmost urgency’
In December, the U.N.’s General Assembly requested the ICJ for an advisory opinion “on a priority basis and with the utmost urgency”.
The U.N. requested judges to make clear Israel’s authorized duties in the direction of the U.N. and its businesses, worldwide organizations or third-party states to “ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population.”
Israel strictly controls all inflows of worldwide assist very important for the two.4 million Palestinians within the Gaza Strip.
It halted assist deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days earlier than it violated a cease-fire that had considerably lowered hostilities after 15 months of conflict.
Supplies are dwindling and the U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday stated it had despatched out its “last remaining food stocks” to kitchens.
News footage from a neighborhood kitchen in Gaza City exhibits scores of girls and boys crowded outdoors the ability, pushing their pots and pans ahead in a determined try to safe no matter meals they will.
The U.N. estimates 500,000 Palestinians have been displaced for the reason that two-month cease-fire resulted in mid-March.
Israel resumed air bombardment on March 18, adopted by renewed floor assaults.
This has triggered what the U.N. has described as “likely the worst” humanitarian disaster the occupied Palestinian territory has confronted for the reason that conflict began after the Hamas incursion, which brought about round 1,218 deaths, in response to Israeli figures.
Israel’s genocidal conflict in retaliation has killed at the very least 52,243 folks in Gaza since October 2023, additionally largely civilians, in response to the Health Ministry.
At least 2,111 Palestinians have been killed since March 18.
The U.N. considers the ministry’s figures dependable.
The Israeli authorities says the assault goals to power Hamas to free the remaining captives, 58 of whom are nonetheless being held in Gaza.
Hostages’ family members have stated it might “sacrifice” their family members.
Although the ICJ’s advisory opinions aren’t legally binding, the court docket believes they “carry great legal weight and moral authority.”
Palestinian envoy to the U.N. Riyad Mansour advised reporters the Palestinians had been constructing a global regulation case in opposition to Israel “block on top of another block.”
“We are very confident that after this horrific tragedy of our people, especially in the Gaza Strip, the arc of justice is bending toward Palestine, toward accomplishing our objectives.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com