Israel Rejects World Court’s Call to Cooperate With UNRWA, Citing Hamas Infiltration

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a non-binding advisory opinion declaring that Israel is legally obligated to permit United Nations agencies, including the controversial UNRWA, to deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza.

“The court considers that Israel is under an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, including UNRWA,” stated ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa. He added that Israel must meet the “basic needs” of Gaza’s population, saying that “as an occupying power, Israel is obliged to ensure the basic needs of the local population, including the supplies essential for their survival.”

The ruling follows Israeli legislation passed last year that sharply curtailed UNRWA’s activities, as well as a request from several UN member states seeking clarification from the ICJ on the legality of those restrictions.

In a separate finding, the court said that Israel had failed to substantiate its claims that a significant number of UNRWA employees are affiliated with the Hamas terror organization. “The court finds that Israel has not substantiated its allegations that a significant part of UNRWA’s employees are ‘members of Hamas… or other terrorist factions,’” Iwasawa said.

Israel had banned UNRWA from operating on its territory after accusing some of its staff of involvement in the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023. Subsequent investigations, including one led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, cited “neutrality-related issues” within the agency but concluded in April 2024 that Israel had “yet to provide supporting evidence” that large numbers of employees belonged to terrorist groups.

UNRWA fired some of its terrorist employees.

The group also was responsible for Gaza’s educational program, textbooks of which were found to contain calls for violence and praise of terrorism, including suicide bombing. UNRWA also operated in close quarters with Hamas command centers.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry sharply rejected the ICJ’s position, accusing the court of ignoring substantial evidence of UNRWA’s deep infiltration by Hamas. “This is yet another political attempt to impose political measures against Israel under the guise of international law,” the ministry said in a statement.

“Hamas terror activity within UNRWA took place before the October 7 massacre, during the massacre, and after the massacre,” the statement continued. “Israel will not cooperate with an organization that is infested with terror activity.” The ministry further condemned what it described as “the politicization of international law, which seeks to produce political outcomes and impose measures intended to harm the State of Israel.”

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon likewise blasted the ICJ’s opinion, calling it “shameful.” “They are blaming Israel for not cooperating with UN organs,” Danon said. “They should be blaming themselves. Those organs became breeding grounds for terrorists. Take for example UNRWA—an organization that supported Hamas for years.”