The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is holding its third day of hearings on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians in Gaza. The siege has entered its 60th day, with no food, water, or medical supplies allowed to enter the war-torn enclave since March 2.
The United Nations has warned of “full-scale famine conditions” across Gaza, citing widespread forced displacement and acute shortages of cooking fuel. Many people are relying on aid supplies, but soup kitchens may shut down within days unless aid is allowed in.
Prices inside Gaza have skyrocketed by over 500 percent, and hospitals are overwhelmed with patients and injuries. Medical staff warn that many are dying due to the shortage of medical supplies. The US has defended Israel at ICJ, arguing there is no legal requirement for an occupying power to permit a specific third state or international organization to conduct activity that would compromise its security interests.
However, countries including Turkey, France, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, and Kuwait have spoken out against Israel’s aid blockade, saying it must be lifted to prevent humanitarian catastrophe. The ICJ has issued at least four warnings since Israel’s actions on Gaza began, stating the territory is teetering on the brink of famine.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has shut down all its bakeries in Gaza and depleted its stocks. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that most people cannot bake for themselves due to acute shortages of cooking fuel and soaring wheat flour prices. Over 50 trained analysts are taking part in an analysis of the lack of food and malnutrition in Gaza, which began on April 28 and will last one week.
The situation is dire, with millions of Palestinians facing existential despair. The ICJ hearing has sparked calls for sanctions against Israel to be imposed to protect human life and dignity.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/4/30/gaza-siege-reaches-60th-day-as-us-defends-israel-at-icj