RAMALLAH, October 22, 2025 (WAFA) – The International Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday that Israel, as an occupying power, is obligated to facilitate and secure the entry of relief efforts carried out by the United Nations and its agencies, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The 11-judge panel added that Israel is obligated to guarantee the fulfilment of the basic needs of civilians in the Gaza Strip, including essential supplies for their survival.

President Yuji Iwasawa, during a session held in The Hague to issue an "advisory opinion" defining Israel's aid obligations, asserted that the court had not found evidence to substantiate Israel's claims about UNRWA's neutrality, claiming that a large percentage of the UN agency's employees are members of "terrorist" groups.

The decision carries "significant legal weight and moral authority," despite being an advisory opinion that is not legally binding. It comes after the United Nations asked the court to clarify Israel's obligations, as an occupying power, to ensure and facilitate the provision of urgent supplies necessary for the "survival" of Palestinians.

The situation of UNRWA was a major focus of the week-long hearings last April, in which Israel did not participate.

Although an independent report led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna acknowledged in April 2024 that there were "importances related to neutrality" at UNRWA, it noted that Israel had "not yet provided substantiating evidence" for its claim that a large number of the agency's employees were members of "terrorist" organizations.

This is the third such ruling issued by the court regarding Israel's practices since the outbreak of the Israeli offensive on Gaza on October 7, 2023.

Last July, the court ruled that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories was illegal and had previously issued a ruling ordering Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent genocide in Gaza.

Y.S