UNGA okays measure asking ICJ to weigh in on Israel’s aid obligations to Palestinians

The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution asking the UN’s highest court to state what Israel’s obligations are in Gaza and the West Bank to provide humanitarian assistance essential for the survival of Palestinian civilians.

Thursday’s vote on the Norwegian-sponsored resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice is 137-12, with 22 abstentions. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, voted against the resolution.

In a nonbinding opinion in July, the court condemned Israel’s presence in areas captured during the 1967 Six-Day War as unlawful and called on Israel to end its military presence in those areas and halt settlement construction immediately.

The resolution seeks the ICJ’s guidance on additional questions about its July ruling, including what Israel’s obligations are “to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population.”