UN votes Overwhelmingly for ICJ advisory opinion on Israel’s Humanitarian Ban

UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to ensure and facilitate the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid necessary for the survival of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

The resolution, drafted by Norway, was adopted with 137 member states voting in favor.

Georgios Petropoulos, head of the UN’s humanitarian office in Gaza, said that Israel was weaponizing the aid system, which is severely limiting the ability to provide assistance to civilians.

The resolution which was co-sponsored by several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Spain, expresses “grave concern about dire humanitarian situation in Palestinian Territory” and “calls upon Israel not to impede Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination.”

Human Rights Watch accused Israeli authorities of carrying out acts of extermination and genocide against Palestinians by deliberately restricting access to water.

Norway’s deputy foreign minister, Andreas Kravik, said after the vote that the resolution follows several months during which the world has watched a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza turn into “a dystopian nightmare.”