It is 80 years since the founding of the United Nations and on 24 October it marked the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter.

Despite the precarious nature of Phase 1 of the Hamas Israel Peace Deal and the limited access being permitted by Israel, Aid workers and essential supplies have been delivering much needed humanitarian assistance to the besieged population.

The International Court of Justice has reminded Israel of its obligations as an occupying power not to hinder humanitarian aid to civilians.

As an occupying Power, Israel is obliged to ensure the basic needs of the local population, including the supplies essential for their survival. Obligations to this effect are set out in Articles 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. These obligations, which are owed by the occupying Power to the population of the occupied territory, must be read in conjunction with Article 59 in considering
Israel’s obligations in relation to the activities of the United Nations, other international organizations and third States

The ICJ also reaffirmed that:

that the Palestinian people is entitled to self-determination in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and that Israel, as the occupying Power, has the obligation not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign State, over the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, living side by side, in peace and security with Israel, within secure and internationally recognized borders.

The ICJ publication marked as a point of record that between 7 October 2023 and 20 August 2025, at least ‘531 humanitarian workers, including 366 United Nations personnel, were killed in the Gaza Strip, 360 of whom were working for UNRWA.’ Founded on 8 December 1949, UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians is mandated by the General Assembly of the United Nations to serve Palestinian Refugees. UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, The Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. 

Israel has frequently accused UNRWA that many of their workers are Hamas terrorists. The ICJ stated that ‘the Israeli authorities’ claim that UNRWA is infiltrated by Hamas was not substantiated, nor were allegations that UNRWA is not a neutral organisation.’

UNRWA is the best placed organisation to deliver aid to the starving of Gaza which has been impeded by Israel. Their activities in The West Bank and East Jerusalem have suffered a similar fate. In East Jerusalem schools operated by UNRWA were forced to close by Israel in May of this year. It is the right of every child to be educated.

According to an UNRWA situation report dated 5 September 2025, since 7 October 2023, 907 incidents impacting UNRWA premises and the people inside them have been reported; 312 UNRWA installations have been affected by armed conflict-related incidents; over 360 UNRWA team members have been killed; and at least 845 people sheltering in UNRWA buildings have been killed and 2,554 injured.

Meanwhile, around 12,000 locally recruited Palestinian UNRWA personnel have continued to provide services and assistance to the entire population in need in the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA international staff are refused visas, preventing them from entering the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as the Gaza Strip. The ICJ state that Aid must be let in, and humanitarian personnel and operations must be protected.  All restrictions on UNRWA must be lifted immediately. This is all in accordance with International Law.

In Kirkwall, Orkney, today, 25 October, islanders will again meet in Vigil on the Kirk Green between 1 and 2pm. They have been consistent in their calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the unhindered delivery of all aid, and the release of all those Palestinians still held hostage by Israel in military camps.

Last week, Orkney’s Phoenix Cinema screened ‘From Ground Zero’, a compilation of 22 short films made by Palestinians in Gaza. The mixture of styles and media used reflected the resilience and enduring hopes of the people of Gaza struggling through the pain and trauma of the Genocide they are witnesses to. I was especially moved by “The Teacher”, Directed by Tamer Najm. If you get the chance to view this film, please do so.

Every week The Orkney News has documented the historic activism taking place in Orkney at the weekly Gaza vigils since the end of October 2023, and the other related activities that islanders and visitors have participated in. Many of the vigils and other events are free to view on our YouTube channel. Here is last Saturday’s.

Click on this link for, OBLIGATIONS OF ISRAEL IN RELATION TO THE PRESENCE AND ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS, OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THIRD STATES IN AND IN RELATION TO THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY, ICJ Advisory Opinion 22 October 2025.

Fiona Grahame