The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun hearings into Israel’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza — an act that international law classifies as a war crime.
Representatives of the United Nations and Palestine opened the session by accusing Israel of violating its legal obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Elinor Hammarskjold, the UN’s legal counsel, told the court:
“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.”
Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off supplies to the 2.3 million people trapped in Gaza, where stockpiled food from an earlier ceasefire has all but run out.
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £2 today?
👉 https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Ammar Hijazi, representing Palestine, accused Israel of weaponising hunger:
“Israel is using humanitarian aid as a weapon of war, while people in Gaza face starvation.”
Israel refused to send oral arguments to the ICJ, submitting a written response instead.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the hearings as a “circus” and claimed the process was an attempt to “deprive Israel of its most basic right to defend itself,” while repeating long-standing Israeli allegations that the UNRWA — the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees — is infiltrated by Hamas militants.
These claims are based on nine staff members’ alleged involvement in Hamas’ October 7 assault, all of whom have been dismissed.
However, accusations against individual UN staff do not nullify Israel’s obligations under international law.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
As an occupying power, Israel must ensure the civilian population’s access to basic necessities — regardless of the political situation.
Blocking life-saving food and medicine constitutes collective punishment, a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
While Israel insists it will continue to block supplies until Hamas releases hostages, humanitarian organisations argue that starving an entire civilian population can never be justified.
Hijazi summed it up succinctly before the Court:
“This case is about Israel destroying the fundamentals of life in Palestine.”
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £2 today?
👉 https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Although ICJ advisory opinions are not legally binding, they carry significant weight both politically and legally.
The Court’s opinion could take several months to deliver — but for Gaza’s residents, time is running out.
Calls for immediate action are growing louder.
Even traditional Israeli allies like the United States, Germany, France, and Britain have urged the Netanyahu government to allow the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In short: whatever the ICJ’s verdict may be, Israel’s refusal to permit aid delivery is already widely held to be not only morally indefensible but also a serious violation of international law — one that the world can no longer ignore.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
Israel accused of war crimes as ICJ hears Gaza aid case
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun hearings into Israel’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza — an act that international law classifies as a war crime.
Representatives of the United Nations and Palestine opened the session by accusing Israel of violating its legal obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Elinor Hammarskjold, the UN’s legal counsel, told the court:
Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off supplies to the 2.3 million people trapped in Gaza, where stockpiled food from an earlier ceasefire has all but run out.
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £2 today?
👉 https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Ammar Hijazi, representing Palestine, accused Israel of weaponising hunger:
Israel refused to send oral arguments to the ICJ, submitting a written response instead.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the hearings as a “circus” and claimed the process was an attempt to “deprive Israel of its most basic right to defend itself,” while repeating long-standing Israeli allegations that the UNRWA — the UN agency responsible for Palestinian refugees — is infiltrated by Hamas militants.
These claims are based on nine staff members’ alleged involvement in Hamas’ October 7 assault, all of whom have been dismissed.
However, accusations against individual UN staff do not nullify Israel’s obligations under international law.
Buy Cruel Britannia in print here. Buy the Cruel Britannia ebook here. Or just click on the image!
As an occupying power, Israel must ensure the civilian population’s access to basic necessities — regardless of the political situation.
Blocking life-saving food and medicine constitutes collective punishment, a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions.
Get my free guide: “10 Political Lies You Were Sold This Decade” — just subscribe to our email list here:
👉 https://voxpoliticalonline.com
While Israel insists it will continue to block supplies until Hamas releases hostages, humanitarian organisations argue that starving an entire civilian population can never be justified.
Hijazi summed it up succinctly before the Court:
Help fund great articles! We’re aiming for £50 to cover research and reporting time this week.
Can you chip in £2 today?
👉 https://ko-fi.com/voxpolitical
Although ICJ advisory opinions are not legally binding, they carry significant weight both politically and legally.
The Court’s opinion could take several months to deliver — but for Gaza’s residents, time is running out.
Calls for immediate action are growing louder.
Even traditional Israeli allies like the United States, Germany, France, and Britain have urged the Netanyahu government to allow the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
In short: whatever the ICJ’s verdict may be, Israel’s refusal to permit aid delivery is already widely held to be not only morally indefensible but also a serious violation of international law — one that the world can no longer ignore.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (bottom right of the home page). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Follow Vox Political writer Mike Sivier on BlueSky
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
Cruel Britannia is available
in either print or eBook format here:
The Livingstone Presumption is available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
you might also like
Let’s start the New Year with some hopeful news
The lies that smashed the unions and destroyed our coal industry
Police State Britain: Tories would arrest you for looking at them in a funny way