Judges at the UN’s International Court of Justice ruled unanimously to issue a ruling requiring Israel to act “immediately” to allow “the provision of basic services and humanitarian aid” to Gaza. The decision is binding on the basis of conventions to which Israel is a party, but the court has no way to enforce it, the BBC and The Guardian reported.

The decision came after several UN agencies warned of the risk of famine in Gaza.

Israel has called “absolutely unfounded” accusations that it is blocking the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In response to the court’s ruling on Friday, Israel’s foreign ministry said it would continue to “promote new initiatives and expand existing ones” to allow the continued transit of aid to Gaza by “land, air and sea” with the UN and other organizations. .

Israel stressed that it is important for everyone to understand that the Hamas group is to blame for the current situation in Gaza and for starting the war.

The decision by the tribunal in The Hague came after South Africa complied with an order issued in January asking Israel to take all measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza.

South Africa argued that it had an obligation to act to prevent genocide under the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

The court also ordered Israel to immediately ensure that “its military does not take any action that violates any rights of Palestinians in Gaza, who are a protected group under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, including the provision of emergency humanitarian assistance.” .”

Israel rejects accusations of genocide and insists that its military operations are in self-defense.

The judges also called for the immediate release of the hostages. This is stated in the resolution of the UN Security Council.

The World Food Program and other organizations have warned that Gaza’s population of 2.3 million “faces acute food shortages” and that famine is expected to hit northern Gaza by the end of May.

More than 32,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict, which began on October 7, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory. About 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 250 captured during the Hamas attack.