UNRWA Chief: Situation in Gaza ‘Dystopian Horror’

The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as a “dystopian horror”, detailing how people are waiting to be killed by airstrikes in northern Gaza amid “unbelievable” conditions.

Lazzarini expressed that UNRWA is the backbone of a response for Palestine, and if it disappears from Gaza, the future generation would be sacrificed, noting that more than 650,000 children in Gaza are “deeply traumatized” and without a learning environment. 

Lazzarini emphasized that despite being targeted and having facilities damaged, UNRWA still provides daily aid.

He stressed that “there cannot be peace without addressing Palestinian issue,” indicating that he would be communicating with US president-elect Donald Trump.

Lazzarini told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday that a collapse of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) threatens “the lives and futures of people and communities.”

Lazzarini’s remarks come after the Israeli regime passed a law that prohibits the work of the agency in territories it occupies, severely hindering humanitarian efforts, especially in the besieged Gaza Strip. Moreover, the UN Security Council met on Tuesday to address the possibility of a dangerous famine striking Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. 

“The risk of the Agency’s collapse threatens the lives and futures of people and communities, the region’s stability, and the integrity of our multilateral system,” Lazzarini posted on X. 

He highlighted UNRWA’s international mandate to “directly provide” basic services to over half a million Palestinian children in Gaza. 

Earlier this month, the UNRWA chief warned that “dismantling UNRWA in the absence of a viable alternative will “deprive Palestinian children of learning in the foreseeable future.”

He explained that children and their educational future “are not featured in any discussions when ‘experts’ or politicians talk about replacing UNRWA.”

Lazzarini cautioned that without education, children may be vulnerable to abuse.

“Without learning, this region will remain unstable and volatile. Without UNRWA, the fate of millions of people will hang by the thread.”

Lazzarini emphasized that until October 2023, UNRWA educated approximately 300,000 boys and girls in Gaza, accounting for half of the territory’s school-age population.

HRW report accuses ‘Israel’ of war crimes and ethnic cleansing in Gaza

Since October 2023, “Israel” has been responsible for the large-scale, intentional forced displacement of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to a report released today by Human Rights Watch. The report comes amid a brutal Israeli war and total blockade in northern Gaza, which has likely triggered a new wave of displacement, affecting hundreds of thousands of civilians.

The 154-page report, titled “‘Hopeless, Starving, and Besieged’: Israel’s Forced Displacement of Palestinians in Gaza,” outlined how Israeli actions have led to the displacement of more than 90% of Gaza’s population—about 1.9 million Palestinians—and caused extensive destruction across the region over the past 13 months.

“The Israeli government cannot claim to be keeping Palestinians safe when it kills them along escape routes, bombs so-called safe zones, and cuts off food, water, and sanitation,” said Nadia Hardman, refugee and migrant rights researcher at HRW. “Israel has blatantly violated its obligation to ensure Palestinians can return home, razing virtually everything in large areas.”

According to the report, Israeli forces have intentionally demolished homes and civilian infrastructure, especially in areas where they seem to be establishing “buffer zones” and security “corridors”, leading to the likely permanent displacement of Palestinians. HRW asserted that these actions, contrary to claims by Israeli officials, are in violation of the laws of war.