Gaza [Palestine], March 29: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to provide immediate, unhindered delivery of aid to Gaza as part of new provisional measures issued in a genocide case brought by South Africa.
The ICJ unanimously adopted an order for the unhindered provision by all parties of "urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, electricity, fuel, shelter, clothing, hygiene and sanitation requirements, as well as medical supplies and medical care to Palestinians throughout Gaza, including by increasing the capacity and number of land crossing points and maintaining them open for as long as necessary".
Israel should carry out the order "without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations", the court said.
The court also adopted by a 15-1 vote an order to "ensure with immediate effect that [the Israeli] 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". The court said Israel must submit a report on "all measures taken" to abide by its order within a month.
Aid efforts are being thwarted by difficulties in getting visas and other permits for foreign staff to work inside Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Reuters news agency reports six aid workers from the UN and other groups interviewed cited delays to visas as an example of red tape they say is restricting aid to Gaza, nearly six months into Israel's war.
Source: Qatar Tribune