U.S. backs Israeli ban on U.N. Palestinian aid group UNRWA at World Court : NPR

Kassem CC BY-NC-SA 1/05/2025

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At the @CIJ_ICJ, the US @USUN and its Hungarian client-state, @HUNMissionToUN, undertook a joint effort to subvert the law of war and international adjudication:
1/3. The US argued that the obligations of an occupying power with respect to humanitarian assistance should be met, “while advancing its own military and security interests.” However, the text of Art. Article 59 is explicit in that the occupying power must agree to and facilitate relief schemes on behalf of the occupied population, in their interest, not in its own, acting as a mere facilitator of offers of relief by impartial humanitarian organizations and states not party to the conflict. The US favours the militarization and politicization of aid, which the Court would have to outright reject.
2/3 The US also reminded the Court that “only the Security Council can make (the threat determination that must precede such) binding decisions. In addition, such decisions require not only that at least nine Security Council members vote “yes”, but also that the five permanent members either vote yes or abstain.” The unnecessary reminder of US-imposed Security Council paralysis preceded an inappropriate cautioning of the Court that “novel legal interpretations will not bring an end to the ongoing conflict. They will not create a better tomorrow for Israelis, Palestinians, and the region. We encourage the international community to focus on [...] fresh thinking for a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.”
3/3 Parroting the US in diswaying the Court from exercising its jurisdiction, Hungary argued that “proceeding brought before this esteemed Court may directly contribute to the escalation of the conflict. We are of the view that the present and the former requests for rendering an advisory opinion, as well as the procedure initiated by the Republic of South Africa against the State of Israel, may be considered as an interference in an ongoing conflict that does not contribute to the de-escalation and an eventual settlement.” It went so far as to sugesset that question posed by the request are “so targeted at Israel, that it proceeds on the assumption that Israel has failed to meet its obligations under international law, without any regard to Israel’s legitimate security interests and concerns, or to the obligations of the United Nations and third parties in relation to the very subject-matter of the question.” According to Hungary, humanitarians are at fault, not the occupying power, which besieges, starves, and displaces the civilian population under the guise of security.

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