HCJ rejects petition demanding Israel allow humanitarian aid for Gaza: Ruling greenlights continued harm to civilians in Gaza

The Court’s ruling (Hebrew) rejecting the petition to enable the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilian population reads like a hymn of praise to the State of Israel and its military during the darkest period in their history. Israel’s High Court of Justice (HCJ) refrained from conducting judicial review and fully adopted the State’s position, while ignoring the factual picture and consequences of the State’s actions on the ground in Gaza. The Court also adopted the State’s interpretation of international law, which runs counter to broad consensus among international law scholars and experts worldwide.

For over a year, the Court refrained from ruling on the petition, partly due to changes in the factual situation. Yet conveniently, the justices decided to issue their ruling precisely as the State of Israel completely blocks the passage of humanitarian aid, including food, water, and medicine to Gaza (since March 2), while ignoring this grave and unprecedented development and information presented to the Court by both the petitioners and the respondents. The ruling thus gives the State of Israel a green light to continue committing war crimes and harming civilians in Gaza.