US backs Israel's ban on Unrwa Gaza aid in international court of justice hearing

Joshua Simmons, the US state department's legal adviser, has said Israel 'has no obligation to permit Unrwa specifically to provide humanitarian assistance', adding that there are serious concerns about the impartiality of Unrwa, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. Subscribe to Guardian News on YouTube ► http://bit.ly/guardianwiressub Israel banned all cooperation with Unrwa’s activities in Gaza and the occupied West Bank this year, claiming the agency had been infiltrated by Hamas, an allegation that is fiercely contested Middle East crisis live: latest news ► https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/apr/30/houthis-yemen-us-uk-strikes-israel-icj-gaza-middle-east-crisis-live-updates Israel faces legal pressure at UN’s top court over Unrwa ban ► https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/27/israel-faces-legal-pressure-at-un-top-court-over-unrwa-blockade Unrwa says Israel has abused detained staff and used some as human shields ► https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/29/unrwa-says-israel-has-abused-detained-staff-and-used-some-as-human-shields The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► https://bit.ly/3uhA7zg Sign up to the Guardian's free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► http://theguardian.com/first-edition Website ► https://www.theguardian.com Facebook ►https://www.facebook.com/theguardian Instagram ► https://instagram.com/guardian The Guardian on YouTube: The Guardian ► https://bit.ly/guardiannewssubs Guardian Australia ► https://bit.ly/guardianaussubs Guardian Football ► https://bit.ly/gdnfootballsubs Guardian Sport ► https://bit.ly/gdnsportsubs It's Complicated ► https://bit.ly/ItsComplicatedSubs Guardian Live ► https://bit.ly/guardianlivesubs #gaza #unrwa #israel #icj #palestine #usa #politics #gazawar