'Famine is setting in': UN court orders Israel to unblock Gaza aid

The international court of justice has ordered Israel to allow unimpeded access of food aid into Gaza, where significant sections of the population are facing imminent starvation, in a significant legal rebuke to Israel's claim it is not blocking aid deliveries.

- Peter Beaumont

A panel of judges at the UN's top court, which is already considering a complaint from South Africa that Israel is committing genocide in the Palestinian territory, issued the ruling after an emergency measure in January obliging Israel to admit emergency aid.

The judges, who were unanimous in their decision, said famine and starvation were spreading. "The court observes that Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine... but that famine is setting in," the judges said.

In their legally binding order, they told Israel to take "all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full co-operation with the United Nations, the unhindered provision at scale by all concerned of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance", including food, water, fuel and medicine.

The ICJ also ordered Israel to immediately ensure "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, including by preventing, through any action, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance." Israel denies it is committing genocide and says its military campaign is self-defence.

The judges also called for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas, echoing the demand of a UN security council resolution passed on Monday.

While Israel claims it is allowing aid into Gaza, senior UN and US officials, as well as NGOs, have accused the country of obstructing lifesaving aid to Gaza's population of 2.3 million.