Post by : Rameen Ariff

The Israel-Gaza conflict has once again drawn global attention after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared that Israel, as the occupying power in Gaza and the West Bank, must ensure the basic needs of the population are met. The ruling came as a strong reminder of international law and accountability amid ongoing humanitarian suffering in Gaza, where starvation and disease are worsening every day. The ICJ ruling on Gaza emphasizes Israel’s responsibility to allow humanitarian access and cooperate with UN agencies such as UNRWA, which was previously barred from operating in the occupied territories.

This latest ICJ ruling on Israel and Gaza comes during a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, following months of devastation. Despite the truce, aid reaching Gaza remains alarmingly low. The UN World Food Programme reported that only a fraction of the targeted 2,000 tonnes of aid per day is entering Gaza, with just two border crossings open. The Gaza humanitarian crisis has deepened further as food shortages, water contamination, and price inflation grip the region. Families continue to queue for hours for drinking water or food distribution, while children suffer the visible signs of malnutrition.

Eyad Amawi, a representative from the Gaza Relief Committee, described how life in Gaza remains unbearable despite the ceasefire. He revealed that his four-year-old son can recognize only a few fruits—bananas and apples—because of the scarcity of fresh produce. According to Amawi, one apple now costs around $4, compared to $2 per kilogram before the war. Such extreme price hikes show the collapse of Gaza’s economy and the destruction caused by the Israel-Gaza conflict. The ICJ ruling aims to address this crisis by holding Israel accountable for ensuring humanitarian access, but implementation remains uncertain.

The Israel-Gaza conflict has already claimed more than 68,000 Palestinian lives, most of them women and children. Israel launched its offensive after Hamas’s deadly incursion, which killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to the kidnapping of 250 hostages. However, international critics argue that Israel’s failure to plan for the aftermath has left a devastating power vacuum in Gaza. With no functioning civil authority, prices of food and goods have skyrocketed. Traders and ordinary citizens are now reselling humanitarian aid, worsening the Gaza humanitarian crisis. The ICJ ruling demands that Israel end such economic restrictions and allow vital aid to reach those in need.

Amawi described the situation as “collective punishment,” explaining that despite the ICJ ruling on Israel, airstrikes and blockades persist. He estimated that only 200 to 250 aid trucks enter Gaza daily, far below the 600 promised. Since the ceasefire began, fewer than 1,000 trucks have crossed the border, compared to the 6,600 that should have arrived. The Gaza famine is described by UN experts as “entirely man-made,” with widespread hunger and yellowing skin seen among children. The ICJ’s decision stresses that starvation must never be used as a weapon of war and that Israel must allow unhindered access to humanitarian organizations.

Gaza’s civil defense agency says nearly 10,000 bodies remain buried under rubble, and many families still cannot recover their loved ones. Amawi emphasized that bulldozers, cranes, and heavy machinery are urgently needed to clear the debris, restore roads, and reopen schools. The Israel-Gaza conflict has turned once-bustling neighborhoods into graveyards of rubble and tents. The ICJ’s ruling highlights that Israel’s obligations go beyond halting attacks—it must also ensure dignity, food, and water for the civilians trapped in Gaza.

Amawi concluded that while the ICJ ruling on Gaza brings hope, the real test lies in its enforcement. Israel has dismissed the verdict as “political,” and cooperation with UNRWA remains unlikely. Meanwhile, Gazans continue to struggle for survival. Many rely on polluted water, causing widespread stomach pain and disease. Humanitarian experts warn that unless aid flows increase and Israel complies with the ICJ’s Gaza ruling, the enclave risks becoming an uninhabitable wasteland.

The Israel-Gaza conflict remains one of the most pressing humanitarian crises in the world today. The ICJ’s ruling may have set a legal precedent, but for families in Gaza waiting in food lines and mourning their loved ones, justice can only come through action. The world watches to see whether this decision will spark genuine change—or remain another promise lost in the smoke of war.

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