Israeli rights groups accuse country of violating ICJ’s ruling on Gaza aid

A dozen Israeli human rights groups signed an open letter accusing Israel of failing to comply with the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) provisional ruling, in which the court called on Israel to facilitate access of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“The ICJ order is a legal obligation to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. It must be abided by, not only to ease the urgent suffering of civilians but for the sake of humanity as a whole,” the letter says, first reported by The Guardian.

In its ruling in January, the ICJ made a number of legal requirements of Israel, including taking all measures to prevent intentional harm to civilians and facilitating immediate humanitarian aid to Gaza.

“As members of Israel-based civil society committed to human rights and the rule of law, we condemn the fact that Israel has so far failed to change its behaviour based on the measures imposed by the ICJ, as well as the fact that humanitarian aid to Gaza dropped by 50% in the month following the ruling,” the letter says.

The letter also noted that the international court urged Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release all Israeli hostages being held in Gaza.