The US and UK have announced that they will temporarily halt their funding for the UN agency that provides humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees, following a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
The ICJ, the highest judicial organ of the UN, issued a provisional order on Friday, demanding that Israel stop its military operations in Gaza, prevent the genocide of Palestinians, and punish those responsible for the atrocities. The court also urged the international community to take measures to protect the Palestinian population and ensure respect for international law.
The ICJ’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by South Africa, which accused Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention, a treaty that obliges states to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. South Africa argued that Israel’s intention to destroy the Palestinian people was evident from its methods of warfare, which have caused widespread death, injury and destruction in Gaza.
Israel, which does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICJ, rejected the allegations as “baseless” and accused South Africa of distorting the facts and using the term genocide as a weapon to delegitimize its right to self-defense. Israel claimed that it was acting to protect its citizens from the rocket attacks launched by Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza.
The US and UK, which are among the largest donors to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the agency that supports more than 5 million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank and neighboring countries, said they were appalled by the allegations against UNRWA staff and decided to review their funding. According to media reports, several UNRWA employees were allegedly involved in the 7 October attacks on Israel.
UNRWA, which was established in 1949 after the first Arab-Israeli war, provides services such as education, health care and emergency aid to Palestinians who lost their homes and livelihoods as a result of the conflict. The agency has faced a financial crisis since 2018, when the US, its biggest donor, cut off $360 million of its annual contribution, accusing it of perpetuating the refugee problem and fueling anti-Israeli sentiments.
UNRWA’s commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, said he was shocked by the allegations against UNRWA staff and vowed to investigate and terminate those involved. He also appealed to the donors to resume their support, saying that the agency’s work was vital for the survival and dignity of millions of Palestinians.
The ICJ’s ruling has sparked mixed reactions from the international community, with some countries welcoming it as a victory for justice and humanity, and others criticizing it as a biased and politicized intervention. The UN Security Council is expected to hold a meeting next week to discuss the implementation of the court’s order, which was requested by Algeria, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, as the Israeli blockade and the ongoing military offensive have caused severe shortages of food, water, fuel and medical supplies. According to the Gaza health ministry, more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed and thousands injured since the conflict began on 7 October.