Israeli FM criticises UN court hearings on Gaza aid
The Israeli Foreign Minister has strongly criticised the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its hearings on humanitarian aid to Gaza, Middle East Eye reported on April 28th.
The minister, Gideon Saar, has alleged that the court is engaging in the “systematic persecution and delegitimisation” of Israel.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) opened hearings in The Hague to assess Israel’s legal obligations to facilitate aid delivery, Reuters reported on April 28th. Since March 2nd, Israel has blocked the entry of supplies into the Gaza Strip.
During a live briefing, Saar said the ICJ was becoming “completely politicised”. He also described the proceedings in The Hague as “shameful.”
According to the Middle East Monitor on April 29th, Saar said: “They are abusing the court once again to try and force Israel to cooperate with an organisation that is infested with Hamas terrorists.” Israel accused Hamas of hijacking humanitarian supplies, which the group denies.
Elinor Hammarskjold stated that Israel, as an occupying power, must permit humanitarian assistance. “In the specific context of the current situation in the occupied Palestinian Territories, these obligations entail allowing all relevant UN entities to carry out activities for the benefit of the local population,” she said.
Palestinian representative, Ammar Hijazi, alleged that Israel has used aid as “a weapon of war,” while civilians in Gaza face starvation. Hijazi argued: “This case is about Israel destroying the fundamentals of life in Palestine, while it blocks the UN and other providers of humanitarian aid from providing life-saving aid to the population.”
Meanwhile, pressure mounts from the US, Germany, France, and Britain, which have called for unrestricted aid access, Reuters reported on April 28th.
Reuters, Middle East Eye, Middle East Monitor
