ICJ Unanimously Orders ‘Israel’ to Permit Aid’s Entry into Gaza

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced Thursday a bunch of additional provisional measures, unanimously mandating ‘Israel’ to ensure that humanitarian aid is provided to Gaza, including essentials such as food, water, electricity, and other necessities.

The World Court stressed in a letter that ‘Israel’ must take “all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance”.

The provisional measures issued by the court include ‘Israel’ taking all steps to provide basic humanitarian aid to Gaza. Furthermore, ‘Israel’ should ensure with “immediate effect that its military does not commit acts which constitute a violation of any of the rights of the Palestinians in Gaza as a protected group under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

It added that “the catastrophic living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated further since 26 January, particularly because of the prolonged deprivation of food and fundamental necessities.

“The Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine, “but that famine is setting in,” the letter reads.

Ultimately, ‘Israel’ must submit a report on all measures taken to give effect to this order, within one month from the date of the order, the court ordered.

ICJ letter comes just two weeks after South Africa requested that the ICJ issue additional provisional measures against ‘Israel’ in view of reports of widespread famine in northern Gaza. It also runs contrary to Israel’s claim that it is not blocking aid deliveries to Gaza.

“Palestinians in Gaza are no longer at ‘immediate risk of death by starvation.’ At least 15 Palestinian children – including babies – in Gaza have already died of starvation in the past week alone, with the actual numbers believed to be much higher,” South Africa wrote.

The latest food security report by a Un-backed initiative found that the entire population of Gaza, estimated 2.3 million, is enduring “acute” food insecurity while he the population suffers from a greater level of insecurity classified as “catastrophic.”

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