State Responses to Supreme Court Appeal on Gaza Humanitarian Aid

By Yoni Weiss

On Tuesday, the state replied to an appeal to the Supreme Court lodged by multiple human rights groups alleging Israel’s failure to provide and obstructing the supply of humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilian population. The state furnished data on the extent of aid provided since Oct. 7.

According to the state, from the war’s commencement until the end of March, Gaza received over 252 tons of food via 12,000 aid trucks, over 3.3 million cubic meters of water, and 20 tons of medical equipment, including two million vaccine doses for various diseases.

The appeal contended that Israel’s failure to promptly increase aid to all Gaza residents breaches international and Israeli law, as well as the interim ruling by the International Court of Justice.

In response, the state detailed that from the war’s onset until March 28, 11,954 aid trucks carrying 252,585 tons of food entered Gaza, including 401 cooking gas tanks. Notably, the quantity of food trucks entering Gaza since Oct. 7 significantly surpassed pre-war levels.

Moreover, Gaza received over 3.3 million cubic meters of water from pipelines and 28,100 tons of water via 1,409 aid trucks until March 28. Additionally, Israel facilitated two new water lines from Egypt through the UAE, operational since December 2023, supplying 3,400 cubic meters daily and delivering 195,000 cubic meters until March 23.

Addressing electricity and fuel, the state cited damage to Gaza’s electricity infrastructure due to missile strikes during the war. Despite this, Israel asserted it does not restrict the volume of medical supplies entering Gaza, with 1,705 trucks carrying 19,805 tons of medical equipment admitted until March 28. Israel also permitted the entry of 105 new ambulances and facilitated the delivery of 458,636 vials containing 2,286,330 vaccine doses through UNICEF.

Therefore, the state urged the postponement of the appeal, citing these efforts.