High Court grants 3rd extension to government’s deadline for response to Gaza aid petition

The High Court of Justice gives the government a third extension to file its response to a petition demanding that a “consistent and extensive supply” of humanitarian aid be provided to the civilian population in Gaza.

The petition, filed by the Gisha human rights organization, was submitted to the court on May 18 against the government’s policy at the time of blockading all aid to Gaza.

That same evening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that small amounts of aid would be allowed in, followed by the roll-out of a controversial aid distribution mechanism operated by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation organization.

The High Court took two days to respond to the petition, and then gave the government a week to file its response. The government then requested an extension until May 29, and then on that date requested another extension until June 4.

Yesterday, the government requested a third extension until June 10, which Justice Yosef Elron, a strict conservative, approves. Gisha attorney Osnat Cohen-Lifshitz labels the request “a disgrace.”

Gisha has condemned the GHF aid distribution mechanism, pointing out that it warned in May that unclear security arrangements for the distribution centers, “particularly the terms of engagement for armed guards or Israeli military in the area… could result in targeting of civilians.”

GHF closed Wednesday and Thursday to work out security issues after Gazans trying to reach a distribution site in Rafah were shot and killed on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

In a response to the reported deaths, Gisha says Israel is now an “occupying power” in Gaza and therefore “must allow efficient and uninterrupted entry of humanitarian aid and other goods… must immediately open all crossings to the Strip, ensure safe routes for aid convoys, and protect humanitarians, humanitarian installations and civilians in the Strip.”

The High Court ruled in March on an earlier Gisha petition that Israel was not an occupying power in Gaza.