Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Israel Defies International Court
Two weeks after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, Israel continues to block most humanitarian aid from entering the besieged territory, defying a landmark ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Despite the court's October 22, 2025 decision ordering Israel to facilitate aid delivery and cooperate with UN agencies, only 89 aid trucks per day are reaching Gaza - far below the 600 trucks daily promised in the ceasefire agreement.
UNRWA Access Denied Despite Court Order
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reports that Israel continues to deny access to both humanitarian supplies and international staff. 'We are forced to provide basic care under extremely difficult conditions,' said a UNRWA spokesperson on social media platform X. The agency's approximately 12,000 local staff in Gaza struggle to deliver essential services amid severe shortages.
The ICJ ruling specifically addressed Israel's claims about UNRWA, stating that Israel 'has not provided evidence for its assertion that a significant number of UNRWA staff are members of Hamas' - the justification Israel used to ban the agency from Israeli-controlled areas last year.
Starvation as a Weapon of War
Balkees Jarrah, acting director for the Middle East and North Africa at Human Rights Watch, told reporters: 'The International Court has made clear that Israel must end its campaign against UNRWA and stop using starvation of civilians as a method of warfare.' The court unanimously affirmed that Israel, as an occupying power, has unconditional obligations to ensure Palestinians receive essential supplies including food, medical supplies, and shelter.
Political Conditions Hamper Aid Delivery
Israel maintains that the reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt depends on the recovery of bodies of 13 Israeli hostages believed buried in Gaza. 'We maintain control over Gaza and decide which international forces are admissible,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday, emphasizing Israel's continued authority over access decisions.
Meanwhile, Hamas says it's working with Egyptian specialists and the Red Cross to locate the remains, including in areas now under Israeli control. A Turkish team of 81 recovery specialists has been denied entry to assist with the search.
Journalist Access Remains Restricted
Israel continues to block foreign journalists from independent access to Gaza, maintaining a policy in place since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The government told Israel's Supreme Court this month that the policy is 'under review' but won't change immediately, with a new decision expected by November 23.
Ben De Pear, a British documentary maker and former Channel 4 News editor, warns against marginalizing Palestinian journalists' work: 'Western media create the impression that reporting is only possible when foreign journalists are present, thereby marginalizing the work of local reporters,' he wrote in a widely-shared LinkedIn post.
More than 270 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the war began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, which describes this as 'the deadliest and most deliberate effort to kill and silence journalists' they've ever documented.
Families Search for Missing Loved Ones
As thousands of Palestinians await the return of their missing relatives, Gaza's Health Ministry reports at least 9,000 people remain buried under rubble. Families question why heavy equipment is only deployed to recover Israeli bodies while they search for their own dead with bare hands.
The World Food Programme has delivered over 6,700 metric tonnes of food since the ceasefire began - enough for nearly 500,000 people for two weeks - but this remains well below the 2,000-tonne daily target needed to combat famine, particularly in northern Gaza where famine was declared in August.
Sources: Middle East Eye, UN News, Committee to Protect Journalists