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UN General Assembly, Backed by 137 Countries, Seeks ICJ Opinion on Israel's Aid Obligations to Palestinians Following Norway's Proposal

Dec 19, 2024, 06:44 PM

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel's obligations to facilitate humanitarian aid to Palestinians. The resolution, backed by 137 countries with 12 against and 22 abstentions, seeks to assess Israel's duties in relation to aid delivered by international groups, including the UN, and states. The move comes amid accusations that Israel has been obstructing aid to Gaza. The resolution was proposed by Norway and co-sponsored by several countries including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. It calls for Israel to ensure the unhindered provision of essential supplies to the Palestinian civilian population and to cease actions that impede the delivery of humanitarian aid, particularly in Gaza. Norway's deputy foreign minister Andreas Kravik emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that the international community has not been able to respond adequately due to lack of collaboration from Israel. The resolution also underscores the vital role of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and calls upon Israel to uphold the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.