The United States Department of State appeared before the International Court of Justice in The Hague yesterday, April 30, to address a request from the General Assembly for an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations regarding the presence and activities of the UN, other international organizations, and third states. The country voted against a resolution that referred the matter to the court.
The US maintains its stance that the referral is inappropriate due to its potential impact on efforts towards a ceasefire and hostage release. Instead, Washington supports the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza with safeguards in place to prevent assistance from being misused by terrorist groups like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These organizations have been responsible for harming both Israelis and Palestinians.
During the hearing, US representatives focused on the narrow legal questions before the court and cited established rules of international law, including the roles of the Security Council and General Assembly under the UN Charter. They emphasized the importance of utilizing existing frameworks rather than introducing new obligations without a solid foundation in international law.
The US presentation also highlighted Israel's legitimate concerns regarding the impartiality of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). As such, Israel is not obligated to work with UNRWA in these circumstances.