Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has issued a grave warning about the unprecedented destruction in Gaza due to ongoing Israeli attacks. He cautioned that a famine could occur in the region as winter approaches and emphasized that the dismantling of UNRWA has become a goal of Israel’s military campaign against the territory.
During a press conference in Berlin, Lazzarini expressed growing concerns that international law is being selectively enforced, particularly in the context of the situation in Gaza. He noted that approximately 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed, leading to catastrophic conditions for humanitarian workers. The destruction is so severe that the majority of Gaza’s population is now crammed into just 10% of the total area, with around 400,000 people trapped in northern Gaza.
Lazzarini highlighted Israel’s stance toward UNRWA, stating that “Israel does not allow global media access to Gaza, and information coming from there is limited.” He stressed that dismantling UNRWA has become a target of the military campaign, with some Israeli lawmakers working on legislation aimed at disbanding the agency. He also pointed out that other UN agencies, such as UNIFIL in Lebanon, have faced similar targeting.
Addressing Allegations
In response to Israeli claims that agency staff were involved in the recent “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack, Lazzarini revealed that an investigation was conducted into 19 employees concerning their links to Hamas. The results indicated that the evidence was insufficient and undocumented. He further stated that around 200 UNRWA staff members have been killed in Gaza, and the agency’s infrastructure has suffered significantly. Lazzarini mentioned that their teams in Gaza have never faced such a high number of attacks.
Lazzarini alluded to the United States’ decision to cut contributions to UNRWA, noting that “all countries have resumed their financial contributions to support the agency, except for one.” He warned that dismantling UNRWA would weaken the tools available to the global system, highlighting the current situation in the occupied West Bank, where a “silent war” has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, resulting in over 700 deaths.
He also discussed the situation in Lebanon, expressing concern for the more than 1.2 million displaced individuals in the country. Since Israel launched its military operation in Gaza on October 7, it has expanded its aggression to encompass nearly all of Lebanon, including Beirut, through intensified airstrikes and a ground invasion in the south. Overall, the conflict has resulted in approximately 2,350 deaths and over 10,906 injuries in Lebanon, with a significant number of women and children affected, and more than 1.34 million people displaced.
Conclusion
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates and winter approaches, the need for international action becomes increasingly urgent. UNRWA continues to call for global support to address the looming famine and to ensure that humanitarian agencies can operate effectively in the region.
