During a press conference held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, elaborated on the severe ramifications of recently enacted legislation by the Israeli Knesset, which seeks to dismantle UNRWA’s operations throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, including both Gaza and the West Bank.
“The intention is to undermine the agency,” he asserted, underscoring the politically charged nature of these initiatives and their broader consequences for the humanitarian landscape.
Since the outbreak of hostilities in Gaza on October 7, 2023, a heartbreaking toll has emerged, with 243 staff members of UNRWA tragically losing their lives. Additionally, approximately 190 buildings and facilities have endured severe damage or complete destruction, while critical lifesaving aid operations have been drastically hampered.
Disinformation campaign
“In addition to that there has been [an] intense and aggressive disinformation campaign, [including] reaching out to donor capitals to delegitimize the agency,” Mr. Lazzarini stated, shedding light on the concerted efforts to undermine the agency’s credibility on an international level.
He reaffirmed that UNRWA maintains a steadfast “zero tolerance” policy towards any violations of neutrality, positioning the agency as a “soft target” for various factions that perceive its presence as a threat, including those from within the region.
This accusation extends to Hamas, which has long alleged that UNRWA collaborates with Israel, primarily due to the agency’s educational programs focused on gender equality, the arts, and sports. Simultaneously, Israel has charged UNRWA with being infiltrated by Hamas elements.
“So, this morning [at the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly], I also wanted to clean the record on this,” affirmed Mr. Lazzarini, directly addressing these allegations while referring to his annual briefing to UN Member States at the General Assembly’s main Special Political and Decolonization Committee.
Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, briefs journalists at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Staff targeted
In addition to legislative and financial hurdles, Mr. Lazzarini highlighted the increasingly perilous conditions faced by UNRWA staff. He recounted a troubling recent incident involving a female staff member in the northern West Bank, where she was detained, interrogated, and coerced into providing sensitive information after accusations of her connections to a “terrorist organization.”
The incident he described reflects the dangers and escalating risks for UNRWA personnel in an environment that has become increasingly hostile.
UNRWA is irreplaceable
Mr. Lazzarini firmly stated that UNRWA is irreplaceable, a sentiment echoed by the UN Secretary-General in recent weeks as well as various UN humanitarian agencies actively working on the ground.
The agency has been instrumental in providing educational services to hundreds of thousands of children in the Gaza Strip for decades. He stressed that only UNRWA could effectively resume vital educational services once a ceasefire takes hold.
Furthermore, Mr. Lazzarini emphasized that UNRWA drives essential public health initiatives, conducting thousands of health consultations on a daily basis amidst overwhelming needs.
He warned that if UNRWA were to cease its operations, “the only alternative is that the onus and the responsibility goes back to the occupying power, meaning that Israel will be responsible to provide these critical services.”
Prevent UNRWA’s collapse
Mr. Lazzarini continued to implore UN Member States to take decisive action to halt the implementation of these newly enacted laws, ensuring ongoing financial and political support for UNRWA.
It is crucial that discussions surrounding UNRWA occur within a broader political framework, as any path towards a two-state solution must distinctly outline the agency’s continuing significance in the process.
In conclusion, he stressed that attacks on UNRWA “are attacks on the United Nations” itself. He underscored that Israel’s ongoing actions contradict the principles upheld by the General Assembly and the Security Council, simultaneously eroding the rule-based international order established following World War Two. He urged the numerous countries that back UNRWA’s vital work to “deploy all political and legal capital to prevent this from happening.”
Our operation continues
In response to inquiries from the press, Mr. Lazzarini reaffirmed that UNRWA’s operations will persist in Gaza, stating, “but our operational space is very, very narrow.”
“Gaza is one of the most dangerous places to operate. You have also been regularly briefed on how harrowing the situation is there,” he remarked, detailing the extensive scale of death, destruction, and staggering humanitarian needs, compounded by significant restrictions on aid delivery.
When pressed on the longevity of UNRWA’s operation in Gaza, Mr. Lazzarini stated that the “simple and short answer is we will be operating until the day we cannot operate anymore.”
“We will deliver the services until we are forced to stop the services,” he confirmed, reiterating the agency’s unwavering commitment amidst an increasingly challenging landscape.
**Interview with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA**
**Editor:** Today, we are speaking with Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, who recently addressed the implications of Israeli legislation that could dismantle the agency’s operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. Thank you for joining us, Mr. Lazzarini.
**Lazzarini:** Thank you for having me.
**Editor:** In your recent statements, you expressed concern about the Israeli Knesset’s decision to ban UNRWA from operating in Israel. Can you explain the potential consequences of this legislation?
**Lazzarini:** Absolutely. This legislation is intended to undermine UNRWA and its crucial humanitarian work. We have already seen the devastating impact of ongoing hostilities in Gaza, resulting in the loss of 243 UNRWA staff members and significant damage to our facilities. If this ban is implemented, it will hamper critical aid operations at a time when they are desperately needed.
**Editor:** You also mentioned an aggressive disinformation campaign targeting UNRWA. What does this entail, and how does it affect the agency’s operations?
**Lazzarini:** The disinformation campaign seeks to delegitimize our agency on an international level, influencing donor countries’ perceptions and support. This not only puts our funding at risk but also places our dedicated staff in precarious situations, as they are unfairly accused of having affiliations with armed groups. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards any violations of neutrality, but the hostile environment makes our operations increasingly difficult.
**Editor:** You highlighted a troubling incident involving the detention of one of your staff members. Can you speak to the general safety and conditions your personnel are facing?
**Lazzarini:** The conditions are becoming increasingly perilous. Our staff is often targeted, and the recent incident involving a female employee who was coerced while being interrogated illustrates the escalating risks they encounter. Such threats to our personnel compromise our ability to deliver essential services to those in need.
**Editor:** It appears that you firmly believe UNRWA is irreplaceable. Why is that, especially in the context of the current humanitarian crisis?
**Lazzarini:** UNRWA has provided essential services, including education and health care, to the Palestinian population for decades. We are uniquely positioned to resume these functions efficiently after any ceasefire. If UNRWA were to cease its operations, the responsibility for providing these services would revert to Israel as the occupying power, which would be a significant burden and could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis.
**Editor:** What are your hopes for the international community in light of these developments?
**Lazzarini:** I urge UN Member States to take immediate action to prevent the implementation of these damaging measures. We must ensure that we can continue our critical work without hindrance, as the well-being of millions depends on it. The time is now to support UNRWA and reaffirm our commitment to humanitarian principles.
**Editor:** Thank you, Mr. Lazzarini, for your insights and for highlighting the urgent needs on the ground. We appreciate your time today.
**Lazzarini:** Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this critical issue.
