Lazzarini: Israel Carries Out Concerted Campaign Destroy UNRWA

The head of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini said that Israel is carrying out a concerted campaign aimed at destroying UNRWA.

"Right now we are dealing with an expanded, concerted campaign by Israel aimed at destroying UNRWA," said.

He continued: "It is a long-term political goal because it is believed that if the aid agency is abolished, the status of the Palestinian refugees will be resolved once and for all -- and with it, the right of return. There is a much larger political goal behind this."

He also criticized measures in the Israeli parliament, moves to remove the agency's VAT exemption and orders for contractors at Israel's port of Ashdod to stop handling certain food deliveries for UNRWA, noting that all these demands come from the government.

Lazzarini further mentioned that more than 150 UNRWA installations have been hit since the Gaza war began.

Lately, Israel has called for Lazzarini to step down following claims that a Hamas tunnel had been discovered under its evacuated Gaza City headquarters.