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By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – The United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday to ask the International Court of Justice for an opinion on Israel’s obligations to facilitate aid to the Palestinians delivered by states and international groups, including the United Nations.
The Norwegian-drafted resolution was adopted by the 193-member body with 137 votes in favor. Israel, the United States and 10 other countries voted against, while 22 countries abstained.
The move came in response to Israel’s decision to ban the UN Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, from operating in the country since late January and other obstacles faced by other UN agencies in their aid work. in Gaza over the past year.
The ICJ, known as the World Court, is the highest court of the United Nations and its advisory opinions have legal and political weight although they are not binding. The Hague-based court has no enforcement powers if its opinions are ignored.
The resolution adopted Thursday also expresses “serious concern about the dire humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territory” and “calls on Israel to defend and fulfill its obligations not to prevent the Palestinian people from exercising their right to self-determination.”
The UN considers Gaza and the West Bank to be territory occupied by Israel. International humanitarian law requires an occupying power to accept and facilitate aid programs for people in need “by all means at its disposal” and to ensure standards of food, medical care, hygiene and public health.
The new Israeli law does not directly prohibit UNRWA operations in the West Bank and Gaza. However, it will seriously affect UNRWA’s ability to work. Senior UN and Security Council officials describe UNRWA as the backbone of Gaza’s aid response.
REPLACE UNOPS?
In a letter sent Wednesday to the 15-member Security Council, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon said that “replacing UNRWA with aid plans that adequately provide essential assistance to Palestinian civilians is by no means impossible.” “.
“Israel is ready and willing to work with international partners (and already works tirelessly) to enable and facilitate the continued passage of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza, and to ensure the unimpeded provision of these necessary basic services, in a way that do not undermine Israel’s security,” Danon wrote in the letter seen by Reuters.
The UN has long complained about obstacles to aid in Gaza since the war between Palestinian militants Hamas and Israel began on October 7, 2023. The UN blames Israel and lawlessness in the enclave for impediments to bring aid to Gaza and distribute it to Palestinians throughout the territory. war zone.
A committee of global food security experts warned last month that there is a “strong likelihood that famine is imminent in areas” of northern Gaza.
Israel has said the problem in Gaza was not a lack of aid because more than a million tons were delivered last year. Accuses Hamas of hijacking aid. Hamas has denied the accusations and blamed Israel for the shortage.
Israel has long had tense relations with UNRWA, but relations have deteriorated further over the past year.
Israel says UNRWA staff were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The UN has said nine UNRWA staff may have been involved and have been fired. A Hamas commander in Lebanon, killed by Israel, was also found to have a job with UNRWA.
