Jerusalem, 23 October, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Thursday sharply criticized the International Court of Justice, calling the The Hague-based tribunal “a corrupt political circus.”
Speaking at a joint press conference in Jerusalem with his Albanian counterpart, Elisa Spiropali, Sa’ar said, “This is not a court – it is a corrupt political circus, which Israel’s enemies are using as a weapon against it. It is being used to force Israel to take steps that will endanger our security.”
On Wednesday, the ICJ issued an advisory opinion that Israel must allow the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza. The court ruled that claims that the UN agency is compromised by Hamas were unfounded and that Israel is obligated to ensure essential supplies, including food, water, fuel, shelter, and medical aid, reach Palestinians in Gaza.
Sa’ar attacked UNRWA, saying that the agency remains compromised.
“We will not agree to cooperate with UNRWA, an organization whose employees participated in the October 7 massacre. It is shocking and shameful that a UN organization is infected with terrorists. UNRWA still employs over 1,400 Hamas terrorists! There is no party in the world that can force this on Israel. This evil partnership is currently protected by the so-called UN ‘court.’ This system is rotten to the core,” Sa’ar insisted.
Israeli officials demand the agency be stripped of its authority in Gaza and defunded amid revelations that members of the agency’s staff participated in Hamas’s October 7 attacks. UNRWA is banned from operating in Israel, and Israeli officials are prohibited from cooperating with the agency. Palestinian refugees are the only refugee population with their own dedicated UN agency. The rest of the world’s refugees fall under the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Sa’ar also reiterated Israel’s commitment to the U.S. peace plan.
“Israel is committed to working for the success of the Trump plan. There are difficulties in implementation, but we are doing and will do everything in our power to work for its success. Hamas and Islamic Jihad must disarm. Gaza must be demilitarized. They must no longer pose a threat to the security of Israel and its citizens. Hamas attacks against our forces will not be accepted – and will be met with powerful responses,” Sa’ar said.
On the issue of hostages, Sa’ar urged immediate action. “Hamas must abide by the agreement. We know that it can easily return most of the 13 remaining hostages. It is deliberately slowing the return to delay reaching the second stage – disarmament. Hamas is barbarically abusing families who have already suffered for more than two years and only want to bring their sons home. We demand the return of all the hostages that Hamas is holding immediately without delay!”
Earlier in the day, Sa’ar and Spiropali held private and extended meetings at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. The two ministers signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation in diplomatic training and public diplomacy.
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