BREAKING: ICJ Orders Isreal to lift Gaza Blockade, Allow Humanitarian Aid 

BREAKING: ICJ Orders Isreal to lift Gaza Blockade, Allow Humanitarian Aid 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued an order directing Israel to facilitate the unimpeded delivery of aid into Gaza to prevent a potential famine.

In a unanimous decision, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Israel had to act “without delay to allow the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance”

In its ruling, the ICJ said Gaza was “no longer facing only a risk of famine” but “famine is setting in” and that, according to UN observers, 31 people, including 27 children, had already died of malnutrition and dehydration.

The court also noted comments by Volker Türk, the UN’s high commissioner for human rights, who said last week that the “situation of hunger, starvation and famine” was “a result of Israel’s extensive restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, displacement of most of the population, as well as the destruction of crucial civilian infrastructure”.

The ICJ said Israel had to “take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale… of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance”.

Recent warnings have raised concerns that Gaza may face a famine within weeks, although Israel has refuted these claims as baseless. Israel has attributed the situation in Gaza to Hamas’s actions and its role in initiating the conflict.

Responding to the court order, the Israeli foreign ministry said it was continuing “to promote new initiatives, and to expand existing ones to allow a continuous flow of aid into Gaza by land, air and sea”, working with the UN and others.

The court’s ruling in The Hague follows a request from South Africa to reinforce an earlier directive issued to Israel in January, which aimed to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza.

South Africa, being a signatory of the UN’s 1948 Genocide Convention, emphasized its responsibility to prevent genocide and has been vocal in criticizing Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

While orders from the International Court of Justice are legally binding, the court lacks enforcement capabilities, and only the UN Security Council can implement measures to ensure compliance.

The aid required in Gaza includes essential supplies such as food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene products, and medical provisions.

Israel has accused Hamas of diverting a significant portion of aid meant for the civilian population.

The current conflict originated from an attack on October 7, where Hamas-led gunmen crossed the border into Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages..

Repercussions from this event have led to significant loss of life, with conflicting reports on the number of casualties from both sides. Israel has reiterated its commitment to combat Hamas, despite a recent UN Security Council resolution urging an immediate ceasefire.

In a disturbing development, Israel’s military conducted a raid on al-Shifa hospital, a key shelter for displaced individuals in Gaza.

The escalating situation underscores the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a peaceful resolution to the conflict to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the midst of the ongoing hostilities.