JERUSALEM – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Wednesday that Israel must permit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to deliver essential humanitarian supplies throughout the Gaza Strip, citing urgent legal obligations under international law to protect civilians in occupied territory. The advisory opinion comes at a moment of mounting international criticism over aid shortages and civilian harm in Gaza after months of fighting.
Despite the ICJ’s declaration, both the Israeli government and the Trump administration stated unequivocally that UNRWA would be excluded from Gaza’s future aid framework. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to argue that UNRWA, which has operated in the territory since 1950, is compromised by alleged Hamas infiltration and has failed in its mandate to remain neutral.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed Israel’s stance during a recent visit, calling UNRWA a “subsidiary of Hamas” and asserting that the agency “will not play any role” in distributing humanitarian relief as part of the current ceasefire arrangement. Rubio stressed that Washington would support alternative aid organizations only if Israel considered them acceptable, underlining joint security priorities.
The ICJ’s ruling responded to a December 2024 request from the UN General Assembly for a legal opinion on Israel’s obligations regarding humanitarian access in Gaza and the West Bank. The court found Israel had not substantiated claims that UNRWA is controlled by Hamas and concluded that blocking the agency from operating violates long-standing principles of international humanitarian law, including those set out in the Fourth Geneva Convention.
As summarized by the Court’s president Yuji Iwasawa, “Israel, as the occupying authority, must ensure that residents of Gaza have access to the essentials of daily life, including food and shelter”. The ICJ cautioned that security considerations are not a legitimate basis for denying UN access or impeding aid delivery.
Israel passed laws early this year formally banning UNRWA from Gaza and expanded a controversial policy of replacing UN humanitarian deliveries with new models such as the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, whose operations have faced criticism for failing to meet urgent needs.
The United Nations responded to Washington’s and Jerusalem’s accusations, firmly rejecting claims of Hamas influence over UNRWA, and reaffirmed the agency’s impartial humanitarian mandate. UN officials described recent efforts to restore aid as insufficient for the scale of the crisis, calling for full access and urgent restoration of basic services.
Jewish advocacy organizations in Canada and the U.S. maintain strong support for Israel’s right to security and sovereignty over aid mechanisms in Gaza, arguing that aid must be managed in a way that prevents Hamas’s exploitation and guarantees the safety of Israeli civilians.
While the ICJ opinion reaffirms the international community’s legal expectations, enforcement remains uncertain as Israel and the U.S. hold their position and continue to seek alternative humanitarian solutions. The diplomatic standoff signals prolonged tension over how Gaza’s aid distribution will be managed, with significant implications for both Israeli and Palestinian communities.
This article is based on verified information from publicly available international news reports, agency statements, legal documents, and humanitarian updates, including sources.