UNRWA chief condemns Israel over ‘collective punishment’ of entire Gaza population

The commissioner general for the main UN agency in Palestine has told the UN Security Council Israel is carrying out “collective punishment” of the entire population of Gaza.

In his address to the 15-member Council on Monday, UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini said Israel forced the displacement of Palestinians from the north of Gaza to the south – where they are still not safe.

Lazzarini warned that basic services are crumbling while medicine, food, water and fuel are running out in the besieged territory.

“Most of the people of Gaza felt abandoned. This is dangerous – an entire population is being dehumanized,” he said.

He added that nowhere is safe in Gaza from Israeli bombardment, not even the south where the regime has been pushing the people to go.  

The UN commissioner said not even churches, mosques, hospitals, and UNRWA facilities sheltering displaced people have been spared.

More than 600,000 displaced Palestinians fled to the UNRWA schools across the enclave seeking safety and assistance amid the intensified Israeli onslaught against Gaza.

Israel’s bombardment has already pushed Palestinians in the besieged enclave into smaller areas and spaces.

Lazzarini warned that a further breakdown of civil order in the territory would make it “extremely difficult if not impossible” to deliver more aid.

He said a ceasefire has become a matter of life and death for millions.

UNRWA mourns dozens of its staff martyred in Gaza since Oct. 7

At least 8,610 Palestinians have now been martyred in Israel’s attack, who Lazzarini said included 64 UNRWA staff.

He said that a UN worker named Samir, as well as Samir’s wife and eight children, were martyred just hours before the meeting.

“My UNRWA colleagues are the only glimmer of hope for the entire Gaza Strip … but they are running out of fuel, water, food and medicine and will soon be unable to operate,” said the Swiss-Italian official.

The Palestinian martyrdom toll from Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip has climbed to 8,306, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said Monday.

“The fatalities include 3,457 children and 2,136 women, while more than 21,048 people were injured,” Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told a news conference in Gaza City.

Also addressing the UNSC’s Thursday session, a senior UN aid official, Lisa Doughten, said more than one border crossing was needed to deliver aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, but Kerem Shalom, controlled by Israel, is the only one equipped to take enough trucks.

ME