The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has found that Israel has an obligation under international human rights law to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of the Palestinian population.

The ICJ rendered its advisory opinion in response to a United Nations General Assembly request on Israel’s obligations to facilitate aid to Palestinians.

This came after Israel banned operations by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

The 11 judges decided that Israel, as the occupying power, was required to fulfil its obligations under international humanitarian law by ensuring that the population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had the essential supplies of daily life.

The court said Israel had to agree to facilitate, by all means at its disposal, relief schemes on behalf of the OPT population so long as that population was inadequately supplied, as has been the case in Gaza.

This included relief provided by the U.N. and its entities, including UNRWA and other international organisations and third states.

The Court found that Israel had an obligation not to impede such relief and that Israel was obliged to ensure full respect for the privileges and immunities of the UN, its agencies and officials.