Israel has allegedly failed to comply with a directive from the United Nations’ top court to provide urgently needed assistance to people in the Gaza Strip, as reported by Human Rights Watch on Monday. This comes a month after a significant ruling in The Hague ordered Israel to moderate its military actions in the region.
In response to a petition from South Africa accusing Israel of genocide, the U.N. court ordered Israel to take all necessary measures to prevent further loss of life and destruction in Gaza.
However, the court did not mandate an immediate halt to Israel’s military offensive, which has led to a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. Israel has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that it is acting in self-defense.
Human Rights Watch (Credits: Asharq Al-Awsat)
Approximately five months into the conflict, Israel is reportedly planning to expand its ground operation into Rafah, a town in southern Gaza where thousands of Palestinians have sought refuge.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that the army has presented its operational plan for Rafah to the War Cabinet, along with plans to evacuate civilians from affected areas.
Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh has announced the resignation of his government, a move that could pave the way for U.S.-backed reforms within the Palestinian Authority. This development comes amid efforts to reshape the Palestinian Authority’s role in postwar Gaza.
In its ruling last month, the International Court of Justice instructed Israel to adhere to six provisional measures, including the immediate provision of essential services and humanitarian aid to alleviate the dire living conditions in Gaza.
Israel was also required to submit a report on its compliance with these measures within a month. However, it remains unclear whether Israel has submitted such a report.
Human Rights Watch has criticized Israel for failing to comply with the court’s order on aid provision, citing a significant drop in the number of aid trucks entering Gaza since the ruling. The organization also accused Israel of impeding fuel deliveries to northern Gaza and obstructing aid efforts in the region.
Israel denies allegations of restricting aid entry and instead blames humanitarian organizations operating within Gaza for the delays. The situation has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where tens of thousands of people have been killed or displaced due to the conflict.
Despite Israel’s assertions, United Nations agencies and aid groups have called for increased access to Gaza and improved coordination to ensure the delivery of vital assistance to those in need.
