Israel accused of using aid as a 'weapon of war' against Gaza in World Court hearing

U.N. and Palestinian representatives at the ICJ accused Israel of breaking international law by refusing to let aid into Gaza, on the first day of hearings.

U.N. and Palestinian representatives at the International Court of Justice accused Israel of breaking international law by refusing to let aid into Gaza, on the first day of hearings about Israel’s obligations to facilitate aid deliveries.

Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip, and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out.

At the opening of the hearings at the U.N.’s top court, the U.N.’s legal counsel said Israel had a clear obligation as an occupying force to allow and facilitate humanitarian aid for the people in Gaza.

A Palestinian boy watches as a man bakes bread in the Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza on Monday.Eyad Baba / AFP - Getty Images“In the specific context of the current situation in the occupied Palestinian Territories, these obligations entail allowing all relevant U.N. entities to carry out activities for the benefit of the local population,” Elinor Hammarskjold said.

Palestinian representative Ammar Hijazi said Israel was using humanitarian aid as “a weapon of war”, while people in Gaza were facing starvation.