The Israeli government has failed to comply with at least one measure in the legally binding order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in South Africa’s genocide case, Human Rights Watch said today. Citing warnings about “catastrophic conditions” in Gaza, the court ordered Israel on January 26, 2024, to “take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian aid,” and to report back on its compliance to the specific measures “within one month.”One month later, however, Israel continues to obstruct the provision of basic services and the entry and distribution within Gaza of fuel and lifesaving aid, acts of collective punishment that amount to war crimes and include the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war. Fewer trucks have entered Gaza and fewer aid missions have been permitted to reach northern Gaza in the several weeks since the ruling than in the weeks preceding it, according to United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).“The Israeli government is starving Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians, putting them in even more peril than before the World Court’s binding order,” said Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch. “The Israeli government has simply ignored the court’s ruling, and in some ways even intensified its repression, including further blocking lifesaving aid.”
It points to a graphic by UN-OCHA showing that for several days in February the number of aid trucks decreased dramatically.
OCHA's daily report for February 9 says the reason that aid was limited:
The deteriorating situation and escalation of hostilities have caused significant damage to critical infrastructure, including roads, electricity, and water supply systems, impeding the distribution of food aid.
Not Israel actively blocking aid, but the practical realities of the difficulties of getting the aid transported. In other words, logistics.
And more evidence that this is a logistical problem and not because of Israeli actions comes from the semi-regular COGAT reports. I cannot find historic reports online, but I do have emails from COGAT. On February 14, they reported:
208 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip Yesterday (Feb. 13). 44 trucks were inspected at Nitzana and transferred via the Rafah Crossing, and 164 were inspected and transferred via Kerem Shalom. 87 trucks carried food.
But the graphic above says that only 100 trucks entered Gaza on February 13.
COGAT:
106 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were inspected and transferred to the Gaza Strip Yesterday (Feb. 15). 15 trucks were inspected at Nitzana and transferred via the Rafah Crossing, and 91 were inspected and transferred via Kerem Shalom.
February 19: COGAT says 100 trucks, OCHA says 9.
And, as photos show, long lines of trucks are lined up at the Rafah border waiting to enter Gaza. Israel isn't blocking Rafah.
Logistics problems take time to solve, especially when Hamas is hijacking trucks and shooting at people trying to receive aid.The World Food Programme paused its efforts on February 20, and described the chaotic and dangerous conditions in Gaza, well before HRW's report:
On Sunday, as WFP started the route towards Gaza City, the convoy was surrounded by crowds of hungry people close to the Wadi Gaza checkpoint. First fending off multiple attempts by people trying to climb aboard our trucks, then facing gunfire once we entered Gaza City, our team was able to distribute a small quantity of the food along the way. On Monday, the second convoy’s journey north faced complete chaos and violence due to the collapse of civil order. Several trucks were looted between Khan Younes and Deir al Balah and a truck driver was beaten. The remaining flour was spontaneously distributed off the trucks in Gaza city, amidst high tension and explosive anger.
Despite all this, the number of truckloads are increasing week after week.
One more data point showing that HRW lies. Egypt Today reports that not only are the US and Jordan airdropping supplies to northern Gaza, but also the UAE and Egypt.
Israel is very careful about airspace over Gaza. Any country that wants to have airdrops must closely coordinate with Israel, and Israel only. There are no other obstacles to air-dropping aid. And Israel is facilitating those missions, even from countries whose own lawmakers are nakedly antisemitic and anti-Israel.
While the total amounts of aid from planes is still small, it shows that Israel is not "blocking" aid at all.
And it shows that Omar Shakir of Human Rights Watch is a liar.
