Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has urged the international community to apply more pressure on Israel to open additional pathways for humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
In a post on the “X” platform, Lazzarini appealed to Israel to cooperate with the United Nations in facilitating the urgently needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
“Member states must exert more pressure on Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s order. Those who have ceased funding UNRWA should reconsider their decision, allowing the agency to fulfil its mandate, including helping to prevent famine,” Lazzarini stated, emphasizing that bold actions are overdue.
Lazzarini’s comments came a day after the International Court of Justice unanimously ordered Israel to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the delivery of aid to Gaza.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 31 people, including 27 children, have died from malnutrition or dehydration, indicating that famine has begun in Gaza.
The International Court of Justice’s report called on Israel to open land bridges to Gaza, allowing the flow of humanitarian aid, which it noted would be sufficient to prevent famine in the region.
In January, Israel accused 12 UNRWA staff members of involvement in a Hamas attack on October 7.
However, according to Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Israel has never provided evidence to support this claim.
Although UNRWA dismissed the surviving ten staff members (two were killed), 18 countries, including major donors like the United States and Germany, halted their funding, putting UNRWA’s survival in doubt despite some funders resuming payments.
In late February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed a post-war plan for Gaza, which included abolishing UNRWA.
Last Monday, US President Joe Biden signed a $1.2 trillion spending bill prohibiting UNRWA funding until at least March 2025.
The day before, Israel announced it would no longer allow UNRWA trucks into northern Gaza, where food insecurity is at its worst.
