Israeli aggression in Gaza continues unabated, claiming 40 more lives in a single day as a severe blockade strangles enclave’s 2.3 million residents.

For nearly two months, Israel has halted all humanitarian aid, food, fuel, and medical supplies, plunging Gaza into a dire crisis. International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Hague held its second day of hearings to address Israel’s obligations as an occupying power amid global outcry over the escalating humanitarian disaster.

South Africa’s representative, Zane Dangor, accused Israel of committing “genocide, oppression. And apartheid” against Palestinians in full view of the world. “Israel is using starvation as a weapon,” Dangor told the ICJ, urging global pressure to lift the blockade.

Hamas, Palestinian resistance group echoed this call, appealing to UN and world leaders to force Israel to end the siege. The group condemned Israel’s use of hunger as a tool of war, warning of catastrophic consequences for Gaza’s population.

UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) issued a stark warning: without immediate action, Gaza’s next generation faces annihilation. Families of seven or eight survive on meager food rations, with no access to balanced nutrition. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk urged vigilance to prevent Gaza from descending into a new humanitarian abyss, as relentless Israeli strikes. And the total aid blackout threaten mass starvation and disease.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, addressing a Security Council meeting, expressed alarm over the crisis, stating that a two-state solution is now at risk.

“Political will and courage are needed for peace,” he said, warning against ignoring the region’s plight. Despite these pleas, Israeli forces pressed attacks across Gaza, with deaths reported in Beit Hanoun, Al-Mawasi, and Suja’iyya.

ICJ hearings prompted by a UN General Assembly request scrutinize Israel’s responsibility to ensure aid reaches Gaza. While the court’s advisory opinion will not be binding it carries significant legal and political weight.

Palestinian envoy Ammar Hijazi told the court that Israel’s actions violate international law, leaving Gazans facing starvation. Israel dismissed the proceedings as a “circus,” with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accusing the UN of failing to address alleged Hamas ties within UNRWA.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to secure. The release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza while rejecting genocide allegations as “outrageous.” Meanwhile, UK and Qatar renewed calls for a ceasefire to halt the violence and restore aid flows.

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As Gaza teeters on the brink, the international community faces mounting pressure to act. The World Food Programme has exhausted its supplies, and hospitals, schools, and infrastructure lie in ruins. With over 50 days of blockade and no end to Israeli strikes. Gaza’s residents endure unimaginable suffering, their survival hanging by a thread.