Key Facts

• The UN's top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has started hearings about Israel's duty to allow aid to Palestinians.
• Israel stopped allowing aid into Gaza on March 2, stating it was a move to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages.
• Israel also cut ties with Unrwa last year, accusing it of colluding with Hamas.
• The hearings at The Hague are expected to last five days.
• The Palestinian ambassador to International Organisations in The Hague has accused Israel of a damaging campaign against Palestinians.
• Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar characterized the hearings as an attempt to politicize and abuse the legal process to persecute Israel.
• Announced by Israel's parliament in October, two bills declared Unrwa harbored terrorists and demanded an end to all cooperation with the organisation. Unrwa denies these allegations.
• The main focus of these hearings is to help judges determine if Israel acted unlawfully against a UN body.
• The UN states that Israel, as an occupying power, is required by international law to provide supplies for the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza.