Lazzarini added that during the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) military operation “roads, water, electricity networks were also destroyed in the camp.”
The Israeli military has denied responsibility for damaging the building. An IDF statement claimed that “terrorists planted explosives in the proximity of the UNRWA offices that were then detonated in an attempt to harm IDF soldiers.”
Earlier in the week, Israeli lawmakers passed a law banning UNRWA from operating in the country. Lazzarini hit out at the Knesset’s decision, blasting it as “collective punishment” that violates the UN Charter.
“The vote by the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) against [UNRWA] this evening is unprecedented and sets a dangerous precedent. It opposes the UN Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law,” Lazzarini said on X.
The UNRWA chief added that the bills would only “deepen the suffering of Palestinians,” especially in the Gaza Strip.
How Israel’s Ban of UNRWA Could Worsen Already Acute Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
by Ekaterina binova – originally published on Sputnik International
The Israeli parliament has barred the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from operating in Israel and dramatically curtailed its activities in occupied Gaza.
UNRWA provided education, health care, relief and social services, infrastructure and camp improvement, microfinance and emergency response to Palestinians.
The Israeli laws targeting UNRWA have set a dangerous precedent and violate international law, the agency’s commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini stated.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has stressed that “there is no alternative to UNRWA.
Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Spain condemned Israel’s legislation in a joint statement on Monday. The UK, Germany and the EU leadership expressed “grave concerns”. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the US is “deeply” concerned. Turkiye stated that “Israel aims to destroy the two-state solution” by banning UNRWA.
The Gaza Strip has a population of approximately 2.1 million people, including 1.7 million Palestine Refugees. Gazans depend on educational, healthcare and other assistance provided by UNRWA during the war. Roughly 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza depend on UNRWA’s food aid.
Humanitarian aid comes to Gaza through crossings which are now under control of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Israel will no longer issue permits for UNRWA to enter the region. UNRWA is the main UN agency working in the strip.
According to the UN’s October report, over 1.8 million people across Gaza are presently experiencing “high levels of acute food insecurity”, including nearly 133,000 people facing “catastrophic food insecurity.”
At least 1.9 million people across the Gaza Strip are internally displaced. Only 17 out of 35 medical facilities are partially functioning in Gaza, while others have been destroyed. The UNRWA ban will further exacerbate the Gaza humanitarian crisis, the UN warns.
MAIN SOURCES
GOSPA NEWS – CONSPIRACY – FREEMASONRY – NWO