THE HAGUE — The top United Nations court Wednesday began its ruling on Israel's obligations towards agencies providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza, as aid groups scramble to scale up assistance following a ceasefire.

 

International Court of Justice President Yuji Iwasawa opened the public hearing to deliver its "advisory opinion" laying out Israel's duty to facilitate aid in Gaza.

 

The UN asked the ICJ to clarify Israel's obligations, as an occupying power, towards UN and other bodies "including to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival" of Palestinians.

 

An ICJ opinion is not legally binding but the court believes it carries "great legal weight and moral authority".

 

ICJ judges heard a week of evidence in April from dozens of nations and organisations, much of which revolved around the status of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.

 

Israel did not take part in the hearings but an official told journalists earlier Wednesday it was "an abuse of international law".

 

The official added that Israel "cooperates with international organisations, with other UN agencies regarding Gaza. But Israel will not cooperate with UNRWA."

 

Israel banned UNRWA from operating on Israeli soil after accusing some of its staff of taking part in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that sparked the war.

 

A series of investigations, including one led by France's former foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some "neutrality-related issues" at UNRWA.

 

However, the April 2024 report said Israel had "yet to provide supporting evidence" of its allegation that "a significant number of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organisations".

 

At the ICJ hearings in April, a US official raised "serious concerns" about the impartiality of UNRWA, and alleged that Hamas used the agency's facilities.

 

The US official, Josh Simmons, said Israel had "no obligation to permit UNRWA specifically to provide humanitarian assistance".

 

Simmons added that UNRWA was not the only option for delivering aid into Gaza.

 

Palestinian official Ammar Hijazi told the ICJ judges that Israel was blocking aid as a "weapon of war", sparking starvation in Gaza.