For The Hague court, conditions in Gaza are worsening, Israel must “guarantee unhindered humanitarian aid”

Brussels – The people of Gaza are no longer just facing the risk of famine, but “famine is setting in,” according to the International Court of Justice, which updated the list of interim measures imposed on Israel on Jan. 26 to prevent the possible crime of genocide against Palestinians in the Strip. Tel Aviv is to “ensure, without delay, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic  services and humanitarian assistance.”

The latest numbers recorded by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA-OPT) are chilling: at least 31 people, including 27 children, have already died from malnutrition and dehydration. The Hague Tribunal, therefore, insists that the Israeli authorities “must increase the capacity and number of open land crossing points and to keep them open for as long as necessary” to allow the entry of “food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation, as well as medical supplies and assistance to Palestinians throughout Gaza.”

With one defection by former Israeli Supreme Court Chief Justice Aharon Barak, the 15-magistrate panel that is handling the case on the genocide risk in Gaza raised by South Africa also ordered Israel to “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 Genocide Convention.” This includes deliberately preventing the delivery of aid.

Two months have passed since the Court’s first verdict calling on Israel to “take all necessary measures to prevent genocide in Gaza.” The Jewish state, on Feb. 26 (the following month), sent a report to The Hague outlining the actions taken to protect the civilian population. But in the update of measures requested yesterday, the Court  “observes with regret that, since then, the catastrophic
living conditions of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated further, in particular in view of the prolonged and widespread deprivation of food and other basic necessities.” Moreover, since Jan. 26, Israeli military operations have reportedly claimed more than 6,600 lives and injured nearly 11,000 people. Bringing the total death toll to over 32,400 and the total number of wounded to almost 75,000.

Israel reiterated that there is an “extensive record of Israeli efforts in the humanitarian sphere to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population in general and to address the challenge of food insecurity in particular.” It rejected “in the strongest terms” South Africa’s accusations that starvation in Gaza is the direct result of “deliberate acts and omissions.”

The U.N. Court has now given Tel Aviv another month to submit a new report giving an account of measures taken to implement the order and avert the spread of famine. But the Hague judges are aware “that there is urgency,” in the sense that “there existed real and imminent risk that such prejudice to the plausible rights claimed by South Africa will be caused before the Court makes a final decision in the case.”