ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Iranian foreign ministry on Saturday condemned Israel for “the most atrocious crimes of international concern” in Gaza and other Palestinian territories, citing a recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory that called on Israel to facilitate the passage of aid and stop using starvation as a weapon of war.

The ICJ on Wednesday issued an advisory opinion regarding Israel’s obligations towards Palestinian territories under the law of occupation, stressing that Israel must ease the entry of humanitarian aid and ensure access to “essential supplies and health services.”

The court also found that Israel is under obligation “not to use starvation of civilian population as a method of warfare.”

Esmail Baghei, spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, on Saturday accused Israel of “the most atrocious crimes of international concern, namely war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza,” in a post on X.

The ICJ’s opinion highlighted “the undeniable truth that the Israeli regime continues to be a tremendous violator of each and every norm of international humanitarian law,” the spokesperson said, adding that Israel has “persistently defied all these principles and rules.”

Israel has severely limited the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip since March.

The Palestinian Government Media Office in Gaza on Tuesday revealed that, on average, 89 aid trucks have been allowed entry into the Strip  by the Israeli forces on a daily basis since the ceasefire with Hamas took effect, while the agreement calls for 600 trucks to enter.

Baghei emphasized Israel’s obligation to meet the needs of Palestinians, as they live under its “occupation.”

At least 460 people, including 154 children, have died in the Strip due to starvation and malnutrition, according to the Gaza health ministry. The ministry also reports that over 50,000 children under the age of five are suffering with severe malnutrition.

In August, the World Health Organization reported that more than half a million people in Gaza are facing famine, with widespread starvation, destitution, and preventable deaths.

After a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, brokered by US President Donald Trump, went into effect on October 10, Israel announced it would reopen the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to allow humanitarian aid.

Nonetheless, Israeli forces have continued to limit the entry of aid, with thousands of aid trucks aid reportedly still waiting to enter the Strip.

World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday told reporters that the situation in Gaza remains “catastrophic” as the aid allowed to enter the Strip is “not enough,” arguing that “there is no dent in hunger because there is not enough food.”