Storyline: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) affirmed on Wednesday that Israel is obligated to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including assistance provided by United Nations agencies. "The State of Israel, as an occupying Power, is required to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law," the Hague-based court said in its legally non-binding advisory opinion requested by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) last year. The top UN court stated that Israel "is under an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes under Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention," as the population of Gaza "has been inadequately supplied." The judges urged Israel "to ensure that the population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory has the essential supplies of daily life, including food, water, clothing, bedding, shelter, fuel, medical supplies and services." "The occupying power may not invoke reasons of security to suspend all humanitarian activities in occupied territory," the court said. Israel is obliged "to facilitate by all means at its disposal relief schemes... including relief provided by the United Nations and its entities, in particular the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), other international organizations and third States, and not to impede such relief." The court also said that Israel must "respect and protect all relief and medical personnel and facilities," and prohibit "the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare." The advisory opinion stems from a December 2024 request by the UNGA, which asked the world court to clarify Israel's duties as an occupying power under international law and its responsibilities in ensuring unhindered humanitarian access and supporting the operations of the UN and other humanitarian actors in the Palestinian territories. Public hearings on the case were held from April 28 to May 2, 2025, during which 39 states, the UN, and regional organizations - including the League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union - presented oral statements. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hopes that Israel will abide by the advisory opinion concerning Israel's responsibilities in the occupied Palestinian territory, a UN spokesperson said Wednesday. Guterres "added that the decision comes at a moment in which we are doing everything we can to boost our humanitarian aid in Gaza, and so the advisory opinion is decisive in order for us to deal with the tragic situation in which the people of Gaza still live," Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN chief, told a daily briefing. In a statement on Wednesday, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the advisory opinion, saying that Israel must cease its illegal policies, and called on all countries to monitor Israel's compliance. A spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the same day that Israel "firmly rejects" the advisory opinion, viewing it as another political action against the country disguised as international law. Shotlist: FILE: Hague, Netherlands - Feb 22, 2024: 1. Various of exterior of International Court of Justice (ICJ) Headquarters 2. Various of United Nations (UN) flag Gaza Strip - Oct 20, 2025: 3. Various of trucks carrying humanitarian aid going through Kissufim border crossing, entering Gaza FILE: Ramallah, West Bank - 2024: 4. Various of Palestinian presidential headquarters; flag of Palestine FILE: Jerusalem - Nov 1, 2022: 5. Various of Knesset, Israeli Parliament building. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]