INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The top United Nations court on Thursday ordered Israel to take measures to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including opening
more land crossings to allow food, water, fuel and other supplies into the war-ravaged enclave.The International Court of Justice issued two
new so-called provisional measures in a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of acts of genocide in its military campaign launched
Convention, including by preventing the delivery of humanitarian assistance.The court told Israel to report back in a month on its
implementation of the orders.Israel declared war in response to a bloody cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct
7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 others were taken hostage
Israel responded with a campaign of airstrikes and a ground offensive that have left over 32,000 Palestinians dead, according to local
health authorities.The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but say roughly two-thirds
of the dead are women, children and teens
Israel says over one-third of the dead are militants, though it has not provided evidence to support the claim, and it blames Hamas for
widespread damage and has sparked a humanitarian crisis
and international aid agencies say virtually the entire Gaza population is struggling to get enough food, with hundreds of thousands of
fact that Palestinian deaths are not solely caused by bombardment and ground attacks, but also by disease and starvation, indicates a need
began to permit entry of humanitarian supplies
It says it places no restrictions on the amount of humanitarian aid allowed into Gaza and accuses the United Nations of failing to properly
On Tuesday, the army said it inspected 258 aid trucks, but only 116 were distributed within Gaza by the U.N.The U.N
and international aid groups say deliveries have been impeded by Israeli military restrictions, ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of
right to self-defense and to win the release of remaining hostages
Israel says Hamas continues to hold some 100 hostages and the remains of 30 others either killed on Oct
the flow of aid to the Gaza Strip ..
added.Israel has been working with international partners on a plan to soon begin deliveries of aid by sea.Israel has repeatedly feuded with
the United Nations, particularly UNRWA, the U.N
agency for Palestinian refugees and main provider of aid in Gaza
least 31 people, including 27 children, have already died of malnutrition and dehydration.The world court said earlier orders imposed on
Gaza.COGAT, the Israeli military body in charge of Palestinian civilian affairs, has also run pilot programs to inspect the humanitarian aid
The agency had no immediate comment on the ICJ ruling.Source: Associated Press-Agencies
