US Defends Israel at ICJ, Says No Obligation to Work with UNRWA

According to Al Jazeera, the United States defended Israel on Wednesday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing that while Israel must provide humanitarian aid to Gaza, it is not legally required to cooperate with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The statement was made during the third day of ICJ hearings in The Hague, where the court is considering what steps Israel must take to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

Josh Simmons, a legal adviser from the U.S. State Department, told the court that there is “no legal requirement that an occupying power permit a specific third state or international organisation to conduct activity that would compromise its security interests.” He suggested that other organisations could take over UNRWA’s role, despite the UN agency’s assertion that it is irreplaceable.

Israel banned UNRWA from operating in January, after alleging that 19 of its roughly 13,000 Gaza-based staff participated in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in southern Israel.

Hungary echoed the U.S. position in its own presentation. In contrast, Russia, speaking immediately after the U.S., stressed UNRWA’s vital role and highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The U.S. was the first country over the course of the three-day proceedings to speak in defence of Israel.