ICJ Orders Israel to Allow Humanitarian Aid into Gaza

October 23, 2025 | 03:51 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel is legally obligated to ensure the basic needs of Gaza residents are met. In a decision announced on Wednesday, October 22, an 11-judge panel affirmed that Israel must support humanitarian aid efforts carried out by the United Nations (UN) and its agencies in the blockaded territory.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, the decision specifically included bodies such as UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees), which Israel had banned from operating after accusing some staff members of involvement in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

The ICJ stated that Israel failed to provide evidence for these allegations. ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa said, "The court finds that Israel has not substantiated its allegations that a significant part of UNRWA’s employees are ‘members of Hamas … or other terrorist factions’."

Citing the Geneva Convention, the ICJ emphasized that Israel is obliged to approve and facilitate aid schemes organized by other countries and neutral humanitarian organizations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and UNRWA.

Israel Rejects ICJ Ruling

Israel did not attend the oral hearing but submitted its legal position in writing. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, immediately dismissed the ICJ's view as disgraceful and accused UN agencies of being a "breeding ground for terrorists."

In April, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had similarly referred to the ICJ hearing as a "circus" and accused the court of being politicized.

Iwasawa directly responded to this criticism, stating, "The court rejects the argument that the request abuses and weaponises the international judicial process."

From March to May, UN lawyers and Palestinian representatives accused Israel of violating international law by systematically refusing aid to Gaza. Although some aid is now permitted, UN officials maintain it is far from sufficient to address the humanitarian crisis and famine caused by the blockade.

UN Secretary-General's Response

According to a report by Anadolu, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ICJ's advisory opinion. "The Secretary-General welcomes the Advisory Opinion issued today by the International Court of Justice, which reaffirmed several fundamental obligations of Israel under international law," said his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

Dujarric added that Guterres urges Israel to comply with its legal obligations regarding the presence and activities of humanitarian organizations in the Palestinian-occupied territories. Guterres will soon convey the ICJ's opinion to the UN General Assembly for follow-up.

"The impact of this opinion will be decisive to improve the tragic situation in Gaza," he said.

Guterres also reiterated his call for a credible political path towards a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living peacefully and securely within recognized pre-1967 borders and Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

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