US Tells World Court Israel Has Right to Starve Gaza
Two months into Israel’s latest siege of Gaza, an American official argued to the International Court of Justice that Tel Aviv is within its rights to deprive Palestinians of food, medicine, and other aid.
Joshua Simmons, a senior legal adviser at the US State Department, argued to the World Court that international law “does not impose any unqualified obligations on an occupying power” with respect to humanitarian assistance provided by the UN, international organizations, and third states.
The UN’s top court is holding five days of hearings to decide what obligations Israel has to the Palestinians under its military occupation. The UN General Assembly asked the court to consider whether Tel Aviv is required to allow the UN Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, to bring food, medicine, and other basic survival needs into Gaza.
