International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), located in The Hague and serving as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, recently issued an advisory opinion directing Israel to facilitate humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This ruling highlights the ICJ's role in addressing international disputes and upholding international law. The court found that Israel must not obstruct aid from UN agencies such as UNRWA, which has faced criticism for its operations. Despite the non-binding nature of advisory opinions, this decision underscores ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestinian territories over humanitarian access and obligations under international law. Critics argue that the ICJ's ruling could have broader implications, including affecting U.S. interests given their stance on funding to UNRWA due to alleged ties with Hamas.