Human Rights Watch Calls on Israel to Comply with International Obligations and Allow Unimpeded Humanitarian Aid Delivery

Human Rights Watch has called on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligation to cooperate with the United Nations and ensure the unimpeded delivery of essential humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the occupied territories. This demand follows an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday, which concluded that Israel's claims that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) lacks neutrality are baseless and that obstructing the agency's vital operations violates international law. Acting Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at HRW, Balkees Jarrah, emphasized that Palestinians will continue to suffer and die unless Israel lifts its unlawful blockade and restores access to electricity, water, and healthcare.

Key Takeaways:

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion stating that Israel's claims that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) lacks neutrality are baseless and that obstructing the agency's vital operations violates international law.
• Acting Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at HRW, Balkees Jarrah, called on Israel to end its campaign to dismantle UNRWA and stop using starvation of civilians as a weapon of war.
• The ICJ's advisory opinion stems from an urgent request submitted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024, seeking clarification on Israel's obligations regarding the activities of the United Nations, third-party states, and other international organizations in the occupied territories.
• The Israeli authorities have barred UNRWA from distributing aid in Gaza, prevented its international staff from entering Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and ordered the closure of UNRWA-run schools in East Jerusalem.
• Human Rights Watch concluded that Israel's policies amount to the crime against humanity of extermination and acts of genocide.
• The Israeli Knesset approved two laws on January 30, effectively terminating UNRWA's operations in the occupied territories.

Statistics:

• Israel has obstructed UNRWA's vital operations, violating international law.
• UNRWA has been unable to distribute aid in Gaza since the Israeli authorities bar them from doing so.
• The UN General Assembly submitted an urgent request in December 2024 to the ICJ, seeking clarification on Israel's obligations.
• Israel has used starvation as a weapon of war, constituting a war crime.
• The Israeli Knesset approved two laws on January 30, 2024, effectively terminating UNRWA's operations in the occupied territories.

Sources:

• Human Rights Watch (HRW) official website, February [missing date] 2024
• International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion, Wednesday [missing date] 2024
• United Nations General Assembly, December 2024