Arab, Islamic nations applaud ICJ order for Israel to unblock aid to Gaza

By Yusuf Alioglu

ISTANBUL (AA) — Arab and Muslim countries and organizations hailed a fresh measure by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering Israel to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Saudi Arabia said the new measure by the top UN court on Thursday was "welcome," with its Foreign Ministry releasing a statement that reiterated Riyadh's "support for all efforts aimed at increasing the entry of urgent humanitarian aid to prevent the worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza."

The kingdom also renewed its call "on the international community to take further actions to stop Israeli violations of international law, and to implement the Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire."

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry also hailed the ICJ order, emphasizing in a statement "the importance of the entire international community exerting pressure on the Israeli occupation to compel it to comply the demands of the Court and UN resolutions, and to work to expedite the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza."

For its part, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry called on the international community to "take immediate action to stop the war on the Gaza Strip and Israeli violations of the humanitarian law, and to implement Security Council Resolution 2728."

Similarly, a statement by the Muslim World League applauded the ICJ order and emphasized "the need for the measures to alleviate the effects of the catastrophe suffered by civilians in Gaza."

The league also stressed "the need to make every effort to enforce international and humanitarian laws, adhere to legitimate international resolutions, and end this devastating war with its resulting killings and destruction."

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.

More than 32,600 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and over 75,000 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in an interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

In a Thursday order, the ICJ called on Israel to take measures “without delay” to ensure “the unhindered provision” of basic services and humanitarian assistance, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies. The world court said, “Palestinians in Gaza are no longer facing only a risk of famine ... but that famine is setting in.”

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul