Gaza: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has accused Israel of deliberately creating famine in Gaza by blocking aid deliveries and sidelining his agency for five months.
According to Anadolu Agency, Philippe Lazzarini made these statements on Saturday, asserting that the crisis has been exacerbated by attempts to replace the UN's coordinated humanitarian system with the politically motivated 'GHF'. Lazzarini highlighted that nearly 1,400 people have died as a result.
Lazzarini emphasized that Israel has prevented UNRWA, described as the 'backbone of humanitarian response', from delivering aid to Gaza since March 2. He criticized the actions as a deliberate measure designed to collectively pressure and punish Palestinians residing in Gaza, unrelated to claims of aid diversion to armed groups. He urged a political decision to unconditionally open the crossings, stressing the urgency of the situation.
UNRWA claimed it possesses the necessary expertise, staff, and resources to make a significant impact and reverse the ongoing famine in Gaza. On the same day, Gaza's Health Ministry reported seven additional deaths, including a child, due to starvation, raising the total death toll from hunger to 169 since October 7, 2023.
The ministry also reported that 39 Palestinians were killed and 849 injured while seeking aid, bringing the total number of fatalities while searching for food to 1,422, with more than 10,067 wounded since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operations on May 27. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has continued its offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of over 60,400 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice regarding its actions in the enclave.