The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is to deliver an advisory opinion on Israel's legal obligations towards UN agencies and other international organisations operating in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The UN's top court received a request from the General Assembly late last year, after Israel's parliament passed laws banning any activity by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) on Israeli territory and contact with Israeli officials.
Israel accused Unrwa of being infiltrated by Hamas. The agency denied the claim, insisting it was impartial.
The ICJ was asked to also cover in its opinion Israel's duty to allow the unhindered delivery of essential supplies to Palestinians.
Israel tightened its blockade on Gaza after the start of its war with Hamas two years ago and has since restricted - and at times completely stopped - the entry of food and other aid for the 2.1 million population.
Before this month's ceasefire deal, UN-backed global experts had estimated that more than 640,000 people were facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity and that there was an 'entirely man-made' famine in Gaza City. Israel rejected the findings, insisting it was allowing in sufficient food. It also blames Hamas for stealing aid.
The ICJ's panel of international judges was asked to clarify two questions in the resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in December.
Firstly, whether Israel's ban on Unrwa breaches UN conventions guaranteeing the independence of UN agencies.
And secondly, whether Israel's restrictions on aid crossings into Gaza violate international humanitarian law, including its duties as an occupying power to protect civilians.
While the opinion will be a non-binding legal clarification, it carries significant moral and diplomatic weight.
At the start of the hearings at The Hague, the UN's Under-Secretary General for Legal Affairs stated that, as the occupying power, Israel's obligations entailed 'allowing and facilitating all relevant United Nations entities to carry out their activities for the benefit of the local population'.
Israel considers this ICJ procedure a 'political circus' and 'abuse of international law'.
Unrwa, which employs 12,000 Palestinian staff in Gaza, has actively denied any unlawful links with Hamas and continues to operate under the restrictive measures imposed by Israel. The upcoming ICJ opinion will address critical issues beyond Unrwa's operations, potentially setting the tone for international humanitarian law enforcement amidst ongoing conflicts.
