New York – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Dec. 19 approved a resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Israel’s responsibilities to allow aid delivery to Palestinians by international groups, including UN agencies.
The Norwegian-drafted resolution passed with 137 votes in favor, 12 against—including Israel and the United States—and 22 abstentions. The move comes amid mounting concerns over Israel’s ban on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) operations, set to take effect in late January, and broader aid delivery challenges in Gaza.
The ICJ, based in The Hague, provides non-binding legal opinions that hold significant political weight but lack enforcement powers. The resolution expressed “grave concern” over the worsening humanitarian conditions in Palestinian territories and called on Israel to comply with international law obligations, including facilitating relief for those in need.
The UN describes Gaza and the West Bank as Israeli-occupied territory. Under international humanitarian law, occupying powers are required to support relief programs, ensuring adequate food, medical supplies, and public health for affected populations.
Israel has recently implemented policies that, while not directly banning UNRWA operations in the West Bank and Gaza, severely constrain its ability to function. UN officials and the Security Council have referred to UNRWA as the “backbone” of humanitarian aid in Gaza, where the dire situation has prompted famine warnings in the north.
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, defended the country’s position, asserting that Israel remains committed to humanitarian assistance. In a Dec. 18 letter to the Security Council, Danon stated that Israel is “ready to work with international partners to ensure unhindered aid provision” without compromising its security. Israel has accused Hamas of hijacking aid deliveries, a claim Hamas denies, blaming shortages on Israeli actions instead.
Israel’s relations with UNRWA have grown increasingly strained, with allegations that some of its staff were linked to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. While the UN has dismissed nine UNRWA employees allegedly involved, the issue has exacerbated existing tensions.
With over a million tons of aid reportedly delivered to Gaza over the past year, Israel claims shortages are not due to insufficient supplies but issues of distribution, which it attributes to Hamas’s interference. Meanwhile, international food security experts warn that famine remains a serious threat in the region as the aid crisis deepens.
As debates continue, the ICJ’s eventual opinion could shape future discourse, though it will ultimately depend on both global and Israeli engagement to address the growing humanitarian challenges in Gaza.