America supports Israel in not allowing UNRWA to deliver aid to Gaza.

The United States stated today, Wednesday, in a hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, that Israel cannot be forced to allow the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees "UNRWA" to operate in Gaza. Israel passed a law last year prohibiting UNRWA from working in Palestinian territories, claiming that the organization had employed members of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement "Hamas" who participated in attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. In August, the international organization stated that nine UNRWA employees may have been involved in the attack and were dismissed. Another Hamas leader was killed, confirmed by UNRWA to be one of its employees in Gaza in October, according to Israel. The United Nations General Assembly requested in December for the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations to facilitate aid to Palestinians provided by countries and international organizations, including the United Nations. On the third day of hearings on this issue, the United States said that Israel has the right to determine which organizations can provide basic needs to the inhabitants of the occupied Palestinian territories. Joshua Simmons, legal advisor at the US Department of State, stated, "The occupying power retains discretion regarding permissible relief plans." He added, "Even if the relief-providing organization is a neutral humanitarian organization, or even if it is a major actor, the occupation law does not compel the dominant authority to allow and facilitate relief operations carried out by that specific actor." Simmons also emphasized "serious concerns" Israel has regarding the neutrality of UNRWA. Representatives of the United Nations and Palestinians accused Israel on Monday at the opening of the hearings of violating international law by refusing to allow aid into Gaza. Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off all supplies to 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza, and almost all stored food supplies have been depleted during the ceasefire earlier this year.