Top UN court says Israel must ease passage of aid into Gaza

THOUGH NOT LEGALLY BINDING, ICJ BELIEVES IT CARRIES 'MORAL AUTHORITY'

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Children watch as the remains of unidentified Palestinians are buried at a cemetery in Deir Al Balah, in central Gaza Strip.

(AFP)

The International Court of Justice said yesterday that Israel was obliged to ease the passage of aid into Gaza, stressing it had to provide Palestinians with “basic needs” essential to survival.

The wide-ranging ICJ ruling came as aid groups are scrambling to scale up much-needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza, seizing upon a fragile ceasefire agreed this month.

The ICJ's "Advisory Opinion" is not legally binding but the court believes it carries "great legal weight and moral authority".

ICJ President Yuji Iwasawa said Israel was "under an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities".