ICJ to hold hearings on "Israel’s" UN obligations in Palestine
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The International Court of Justice will begin hearings concerning the responsibilities of "Israel" regarding the presence of UN bodies in Gaza, almost a month after the occupation announced a brutal blockade on the Strip.
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Seats of the judges at the International Court of Justice, or World Court, in The Hague, Netherlands, Thursday, May 23, 2024 (AP)
Public hearings will begin near the end of April regarding Israeli obligations concerning the presence and operations of the United Nations and other international organizations in the occupied Palestinian territories, as announced by the International Court of Justice.
The hearings, scheduled to take place from April 28 to May 2 at the court's headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands, were detailed in a statement issued by the court on Wednesday.
The court further noted that 40 countries, along with four international and regional organizations, have expressed their intention to participate in the oral proceedings before the judicial body.
United Nations highlights dire situation in Gaza
Gaza has become a "killing field," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Tuesday, accusing "Israel" of blocking essential supplies and violating its clear obligations to address the humanitarian needs of Palestinians in the occupied territory.
More than a month passed "without a drop of aid into Gaza. No food. No fuel. No medicine. No commercial supplies. As aid has dried up, the floodgates of horror have reopened," Guterres told reporters on April 8.
Emphasizing the legal duties of the "occupying power" under the Geneva Conventions, he highlighted the requirement to ensure adequate food and medical provisions for Gaza's civilian population, noting that "None of that is happening today. No humanitarian supplies can enter Gaza," Guterres noted.
On April 6, UNRWA published a warning that its remaining supplies of humanitarian aid are nearing exhaustion, as the Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid has continued since March 18, rapidly exacerbating the crisis in Gaza amid a brutal war waged by "Israel".
Just a day before, UNRWA said that "With over 55,000 people reported killed and an estimated 1.9 million displaced, people in Gaza have endured unimaginable suffering. The ceasefire must be renewed and the over 1 month-long siege must be lifted to allow an unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies."
Similarly, UNICEF described the situation in Gaza as catastrophic, stating that over one million children in Gaza were deprived of critical humanitarian assistance, and infant formula reserves have dwindled to levels sufficient for only 400 babies for the next month—despite nearly 10,000 infants desperately needing nutritional support.
As aid shipments remain blocked and clean water becomes scarcer, families resort to dangerous makeshift alternatives, exposing their children to life-threatening health risks.
