During an important press conference held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, elaborated on the troubling consequences of the recent legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset, which seeks to dismantle the invaluable activities of UNRWA across the occupied Palestinian territories, notably in Gaza and the West Bank.
“The intention is to undermine the agency,” Mr. Lazzarini asserted, highlighting that the newly enacted measures are underpinned by clear political motivations aimed at crippling UNRWA’s operations.
As the war in Gaza escalated starting on 7 October 2023, a devastating toll has emerged, with 243 UNRWA staff members tragically losing their lives. Moreover, approximately 190 buildings and installations vital for humanitarian aid have suffered significant damage or complete destruction, leaving lifesaving aid operations severely restricted.
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, drawing attention to the concerted efforts aimed at undermining UNRWA’s credibility.
He reiterated that despite functioning in a perilous environment fraught with danger, UNRWA maintains a strict “zero tolerance” policy toward breaches of neutrality. The agency is perceived as a “soft target” by various factions that view its presence or activities as a threat, which only exacerbates the challenges it faces.
This hostile environment includes accusations from Hamas, which over the years has claimed that the agency collaborates with Israel, due to UNRWA’s diverse programs in education, gender equality, and the arts. Concurrently, Israeli authorities have also charged that UNRWA is complicit with and infiltrated by Hamas.
“So, this morning [at the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly], I intended to clarify the record on this,” Mr. Lazzarini emphasized, countering the allegations while referencing his annual briefing to UN Member States at the General Assembly’s main Special Political and Decolonization Committee.
In addition to legislative and financial hurdles, UNRWA staff have faced intensified security risks, he recounted a harrowing recent incident involving a female staff member in the northern West Bank who was detained, interrogated, and coerced into providing access to sensitive information after being wrongfully accused of working for a “terrorist organization.”
Such alarming events highlight the heightened risks faced by staff operating within an increasingly hostile environment.
UNRWA is irreplaceable
Mr. Lazzarini stressed that UNRWA is irreplaceable – a sentiment that has been increasingly echoed by the UN Secretary-General in recent weeks and multiple UN humanitarian agencies actively working on the ground.
The agency has been providing vital education to hundreds of thousands of children and youth in the Gaza Strip for decades. He asserted that only UNRWA is positioned to continue delivering essential educational services once a ceasefire is finally achieved.
Furthermore, UNRWA is responsible for steering all critical public health services, conducting thousands of consultations each day to address urgent health needs.
If UNRWA were to cease operations, Mr. Lazzarini warned, “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 reiterated his appeal to UN Member States to take decisive action to prevent the implementation of the newly adopted laws and to ensure sustained financial and political support for UNRWA’s essential work.
Moreover, it is imperative that the issues surrounding UNRWA are addressed within a broader political framework, ensuring any political pathway leading toward a two-state solution explicitly defines its ongoing role in the region.
In conclusion, he stressed that attacks on UNRWA “are attacks on the United Nations” itself. Israel’s actions represent a direct challenge to the authority of the General Assembly and the Security Council, fundamentally undermining the rule-based international order established in the aftermath of World War II, he added.
Mr. Lazzarini implored the numerous countries that support UNRWA’s mission to “deploy all political and legal capital to prevent this from happening.”
Our operation continues
In response to a question posed by a journalist, Mr. Lazzarini emphasized that agency operations in Gaza will persist, 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 conveyed, painting a grim picture of the widespread death and destruction, enormous humanitarian needs, and significant constraints on aid delivery.
When asked about the sustainability of UNRWA’s operations in Gaza, Mr. Lazzarini remarked that the “simple and short answer is we will be operating until the day we cannot operate anymore.”
“We will continue to deliver our essential services until we are absolutely forced to stop,” he affirmed.
**Interview with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA**
*Date: [Insert Date]*
*Location: United Nations Headquarters, New York*
*Interviewer: [Insert Interviewer Name]*
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. Lazzarini. You recently held a press conference at the UN regarding the legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset that threatens UNRWA’s operations. Can you start by describing the main concerns surrounding this legislation?
**Philippe Lazzarini:** Thank you for having me. The main concern is that this legislation aims to undermine UNRWA’s critical role in providing essential services to Palestinian communities in Gaza and the West Bank. These laws are politically motivated and seek to cripple our operations, which are vital for millions of Palestinians who rely on us for education, health services, and humanitarian aid.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Can you elaborate on how this has specifically affected UNRWA staff and facilities?
**Philippe Lazzarini:** Unfortunately, the toll has been severe. Since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023, 243 of our staff members have lost their lives. Additionally, around 190 vital buildings and installations have been damaged or destroyed, significantly impacting our ability to deliver lifesaving aid. This destruction comes on top of the already challenging environment we operate in.
**Interviewer:** In your press conference, you discussed an aggressive disinformation campaign against UNRWA. Can you explain how this has manifested and its potential impact on your operations?
**Philippe Lazzarini:** Yes, there have been concerted efforts to delegitimize UNRWA by reaching out to donor countries and spreading disinformation. This not only affects our credibility but also jeopardizes the support we receive from the international community. It’s crucial to highlight that these attempts coincide with the increase in hostility towards our operations, making it even more difficult to fulfill our mandate.
**Interviewer:** You stated that UNRWA maintains a “zero tolerance” policy toward breaches of neutrality. How do you navigate accusations from both Hamas and Israeli authorities?
**Philippe Lazzarini:** We are often seen as a “soft target” by various actors. Our commitment to neutrality is steadfast, and we take any allegations seriously. During my recent remarks at the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly, I aimed to clarify these accusations and emphasize our independent standing, as well as our essential role in providing services.
**Interviewer:** You emphasized the irreplaceability of UNRWA. Could you share what services are most at risk if UNRWA operations are compromised?
**Philippe Lazzarini:** Certainly. UNRWA has provided decades of educational services to hundreds of thousands of children and youth in Gaza. We also oversee critical public health services, conducting thousands of consultations daily to address urgent needs. If UNRWA ceased operations, the responsibility for these essential services would revert to the occupying power, which is Israel, and that would be a significant blow to the wellbeing of the Palestinian populace.
**Interviewer:** In light of the challenges faced, what actions do you urge UN Member States to take to ensure UNRWA can continue its vital work?
**Philippe Lazzarini:** I call on all UN Member States to take decisive action to prevent the implementation of these harmful laws. Support for UNRWA is crucial not only for the immediate humanitarian response but also for long-term stability in the region. A coordinated effort is essential to safeguard the services we provide and to ensure the resilience of Palestinian communities amidst this turmoil.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. Lazzarini, for shedding light on these pressing issues. Your insights are vital as we seek to understand the situation more clearly.
**Philippe Lazzarini:** Thank you for having me. It’s important to keep the conversation going about the critical role UNRWA plays in supporting the Palestinian people.
