ICJ Orders Gaza Aid as Ukraine, Nigeria Mark Progress

A WHO worker in Gaza prepares essential medical supplies for distribution.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed Wednesday’s advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled that Israel must allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The UN World Court concluded that Israel must also protect relief and medical personnel, prohibit starvation as a method of warfare, and cooperate with the United Nations, among other obligations.

In remarks issued by the UN Spokesperson, Mr. Guterres urged Israel to comply with its obligations regarding the UN and other humanitarian partners. He emphasised that all sides to the conflict must respect international humanitarian and human rights law.

The Secretary-General reiterated his appeal to establish a political path to end the occupation and move towards a two-State solution, “with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security” within borders based on pre-1967 lines.

‘Crystal clear’ obligations

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said the ICJ ruling made Israel’s legal duties “crystal clear,” beginning with ensuring that people in Gaza and the wider Occupied Palestinian Territory receive essential supplies.

He urged Israel and all States to swiftly comply with the court’s findings and take concrete action to address the dire human rights and humanitarian crisis.

All parties to the conflict, he added, must prioritise saving lives and delivering aid, with these steps forming the foundation for peacebuilding and a lasting ceasefire grounded in human rights and international law.

UN nuclear agency: Ukraine’s power plant reconnected to grid

Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), was successfully reconnected to Ukraine’s electrical grid on Thursday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported.

This comes just two weeks after the IAEA facilitated efforts to restore external electricity to the plant, which had lost grid connection for the tenth time since the conflict began in 2022.

‘A rare, good day’

“Today is a rare, good day for nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and beyond, although the overall situation remains highly precarious,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

He added that despite the ongoing war, both sides agreed that restoring off-site power was vital and “cooperated constructively with us to make that happen.”

The agency is monitoring the restoration process and coordinating with both sides to repair further damage.

Nigeria takes action on behalf of internally displaced

Nigeria has risen to the challenge and taken action to advance the UN Secretary-General’s Action Agenda on internal displacement worldwide.

This week, leaders from various UN agencies praised the Nigerian Government for its leadership in addressing internal displacement and called for stronger international engagement to ensure lasting solutions.

Officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) concluded a three-day joint mission to the country, meeting with government officials, traditional leaders, and representatives of internally displaced communities across several regions.

The delegation urged international financial institutions and development partners to increase support for self-reliance and economic recovery.

“Nigeria’s experience shows a clear shift from humanitarian aid to self-reliance, from short-term response to long-term recovery,” said UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner Raouf Mazou.

Unique commitment

“What makes Nigeria unique is its commitment to pairing public investment with private sector engagement,” he said.

The officials noted that Nigeria has benefited from UN assistance in developing state-level data systems, policy frameworks, and coordination mechanisms.

Shoko Noda, Director of UNDP’s Crisis Bureau, added that “Nigeria has the potential to build a comprehensive model for solutions — one that can inspire similar progress in other displacement contexts.”