UNRWA Commissioner-General on ICJ: I welcome the unambiguous ruling by the International Court of Justice today

22 October 2025

From Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General as posted on his official X account (previously known as Twitter)

I welcome the unambiguous ruling by the International Court of Justice today stating that:

• Israel is under an obligation to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations and its entities, in particular UNRWA.
• Israel’s claim that UNRWA is infiltrated by Hamas was not substantiated, nor were allegations that UNRWA is not a neutral organisation.
• There must be accountability for the killing of UNRWA staff members, for the severe mistreatment of humanitarian staff in detention and for the destruction, damage and misuse of UNRWA facilities.
• UNRWA is the key humanitarian actor with a “unique and sustained connection” to the occupied Palestinian territories, whose operations must be facilitated rather than obstructed — particularly given the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
• Providing every assistance to UNRWA’s mandated operations and activities in good faith is part of Israel’s legal obligations as a UN Member State.

With huge amounts of food and other life-saving supplies on standby in Egypt and Jordan, UNRWA has the resources and expertise to immediately scale up the humanitarian response in Gaza and help alleviate the suffering of the civilian population.

To learn more about all ICJ cases related to the question of Palestine, click here to visit the dedicated webpage.

Related content:

• ICJ Press Release: The Court gives its Advisory Opinion and responds to the question posed by the General Assembly – 22 October 2025
• ICJ Advisory Opinion – Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory [EN/FR] – 22 October 2025
• Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary General – on the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice
• Summary of the ICJ Advisory Opinion of 22 October 2025
• UNRWA Press Statement on the Advisory Opinion delivered by the ICJ regarding the State of Israel’s obligations in the occupied Palestinian territory
• UNRWA Commissioner-General on ICJ: I welcome the unambiguous ruling by the International Court of Justice today