A US official has told the International Court of Justice there were “serious concerns” about the impartiality of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, AFP reports.

“There are serious concerns about UNRWA’s impartiality, including information that Hamas has used UNRWA facilities and that UNRWA staff participated in the October 7th terrorist attack against Israel,” said Josh Simmons from the US State Department legal team.

Israel is not participating at the ICJ but has dismissed the hearings as “part of the systematic persecution and delegitimisation” of the country.

Simmons told the judges that Israel has “ample grounds” to question UNRWA’s impartiality.

“Given these concerns, it is clear that Israel has no obligation to permit UNRWA specifically to provide humanitarian assistance,” he said.

“UNRWA is not the only option for providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza,” he added.