I welcome the unambiguous ruling by the International Court of Justice today stating that:
- Israel is under an obligation to agree to & facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations & its entities, in particular UNRWA.
- Israel’s claim that UNRWA is infiltrated by Hamas was not substantiated, nor were allegations that UNRWA is not a neutral organisation.
- There must be accountability for the killing of UNRWA staff members, for the severe mistreatment of humanitarian staff in detention & for the destruction, damage + misuse of UNRWA facilities.
- UNRWA is the key humanitarian actor with a “unique & sustained connection” to the occupied Palestinian territories, whose operations must be facilitated rather than obstructed — particularly given the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
- Providing every assistance to UNRWA’s mandated operations & activities in good faith is part of Israel’s legal obligations as a UN Member State.
With huge amounts of food & other life-saving supplies on standby in Egypt & Jordan, UNRWA has the resources & expertise to immediately scale up the humanitarian response in Gaza & help alleviate the suffering of the civilian population.