A United States official resolving the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Wednesday defended Israels attacks on United Nations firms in Gaza as possibly lawful, as Israels full ban on humanitarian aid to the enclave nears 2 months.Opposing the arguments delivered by the UNs top legal official on Monday and by 12 states that have likewise spoken with the court today, the United States official claimed that global law does not enforce any unqualified commitments on an inhabiting power with respect to humanitarian help supplied by the UN, international companies and 3rd states.In the law of profession, military and humanitarian interests assemble, said Joshua Simmons, the senior bureau official of the Office of the Legal Adviser at the United States Department of State.Simmons described Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which concerns the humanitarian obligations of an occupying power, declaring the provision does not impose an absolute responsibility to allow relief to the population under its control.When it pertains to third states, the article specifies that relief plans may be carried out either by states or by objective humanitarian companies such as the International Committee of the Red Cross.Reflecting Israels view, Simmons questioned the impartiality of UNRWA as a relief service provider.
This post first appeared/also appeared in Tehran Times