Jerusalem: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) warned on Saturday that Israel's efforts to dismantle the agency will not resolve the Palestinian refugee issue and may, in fact, exacerbate the problem.
According to Anadolu Agency, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini emphasized in an interview with the Israeli magazine +972 that UNRWA is "the backbone of humanitarian aid operations in Gaza." He highlighted that the agency continues to provide healthcare and education services to Palestinian refugees in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Lazzarini described the ongoing Israeli attacks on UNRWA as more than just an assault on Palestinian refugees and their right of return. He stated that these actions are also an attack on Palestinian history and identity. Lazzarini warned that if UNRWA were to cease operations, the Palestinian refugee issue would not disappear. Instead, he cautioned that the region would face catastrophic consequences, leaving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians without access to essential services like education and healthcare, creating a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.
The situation escalated on Oct. 28, 2024, when the Israeli Knesset passed two laws banning UNRWA from operating in the occupied Palestinian territories. The legislation, which came into effect on Jan. 30, 2025, revoked privileges granted to the agency and prohibited any official contact with it. Israel has accused UNRWA employees of involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, an allegation the agency has firmly denied. The UN has reiterated that UNRWA maintains strict neutrality and remains committed to its mission despite the Israeli ban.
A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place since last month, pausing Israel's war on Gaza that has resulted in over 48,360 deaths, predominantly among women and children, and has left significant destruction in its wake. In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in the enclave.