Lazzarini warns UNRWA ban will impact Gaza aid delivery, social order

by aje

Fri, Jan 17, 2025 1:09PM

Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini of the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency has warned that legislation passed by Israel’s parliament will come into effect in less than two weeks, effectively banning it from operating at a time in which aid deliveries to Gaza will need to be scaled up, following a ceasefire agreement.

“Full implementation would be catastrophic,” Lazzarini told a news conference. “In Gaza, it would massively weaken the international humanitarian response and immeasurably worsen dire living conditions.”

“The disintegration of the agency would intensify the breakdown of social order in Gaza, undermine the ceasefire agreement and sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition,” he added.

While Israel claims that UNRWA services can be transferred to other entities, Lazzarini said the agency’s role far exceeds that of any other organisation and can only be transferred to a fully functioning state authority.

For more information: https://aje.io/5yx2yp?update=3448243

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