UNRWA Chief Urges Opposition to Israeli Ban

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), emphasized that no organization can replace the agency's critical role in providing aid, education, and healthcare to Palestinian refugees amid an impending Israeli ban on its operations. He described the situation in Gaza as a 'dystopian horror' and urged member states to act swiftly to prevent the ban, which is set to take effect in January. Lazzarini stated that the agency has no contingency plan beyond its current operations and warned that the responsibility for aid would revert to Israel if UNRWA ceases to function. The Israeli parliament approved the ban last month, which has drawn global condemnation, including from the United States. Lazzarini reiterated the urgency of the situation, calling it one of the darkest moments in UNRWA's history, as it supports nearly six million Palestinian refugees across the region. He highlighted the lack of an alternative to UNRWA's services, implying that the only other option would be for Israel to assume control, a scenario he deems unacceptable.