US Raises Concerns Over UNRWA Impartiality at ICJ Hearings

At hearings before the International Court of Justice, a U.S. official expressed 'serious concerns' about the impartiality of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), citing allegations that Hamas used UNRWA facilities and that some staff participated in the October 7 attack against Israel. The U.S. argued that Israel is not legally required to allow UNRWA specifically to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, suggesting other organizations could fulfill this role. Israel has banned UNRWA from operating on its territory and claims several of its staff were involved in the Hamas attack, though international investigations found only some neutrality-related issues and noted a lack of evidence for the most serious allegations. The status of UNRWA is central to the ICJ hearings, which aim to clarify Israel's obligations regarding aid to Palestinians in Gaza. UNRWA's head recently reported that over 50 staff members were abused and used as human shields during Israeli detention. Despite Israel's ban and strict control over aid into Gaza, the need for humanitarian assistance remains acute for the enclave's 2.4 million residents.