UN asked to rule on Israeli Gaza aid ban

Norway is seeking to clarify Israel’s obligations under international law

Norway has requested the UN determine whether Israel is violating international law by barring the organization's Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from delivering humanitarian aid to the Palestinians.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Norwegian government said that it formally “asks the UN General Assembly to request ICJ [The International Court of Justice] ruling” on the question: “Does Israel violate international law as it prevents the UN, international humanitarian organization and states from providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians under occupation?”

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store deplored what he called “systematic obstacles” to the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. In light of this, he urged the ICJ to “pronounce on Israel’s obligations to facilitate humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population, delivered by international organizations, including the UN, and states,” adding that Norway will introduce a relevant resolution to the UN General Assembly.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide also slammed the Israeli actions, noting that the UNRWA ban “will have severe consequences for millions of civilians already living in the most dire of circumstances” and will undermine stability in the Middle East.

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The backlash from Norway came after on Monday Israeli MPs adopted two bills blocking the work of the UNRWA, an agency tasked with helping Palestinian refugees. Officials in West Jerusalem have accused the organization of “being an integral supporter of terror and hate” and a body “to eternalize poverty and suffering.”

Israel also claimed that some of UNRWA employees participated in the surprise Hamas attack last October, and that hundreds of them were part of the Palestinian militant movement. In August, UNRWA fired nine of its staff members, citing their potential involvement in hostilities, while noting that evidence against nine others turned out to be insufficient.

West Jerusalem’s decision to crack down on UNRWA triggered an international backlash, with the UK, Norway, and Iceland condemning Israel.

Since the start of the Hamas-Israel war, Israel has faced allegations of inhumane actions in Gaza. As the fighting has shown no signs of abating, a number of countries, including Norway, Ireland and Spain, have moved to recognize Palestine as a state, sparking anger in West Jerusalem.

According to official figures, the Hamas-Israel war has so far claimed the lives of around 1,700 Israelis and 42,000 Palestinians, while Gaza has seen unprecedented destruction.