UNRWA Official Calls on Israel to Unconditionally Open Border Crossing for Gaza Aid

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, said that Israel violated all international humanitarian laws.

He stressed that the resumption of military operations by the Israeli occupation and their further expansion in southern Gaza repeats the horrors of the past weeks.

“The number of civilians being killed is increasing rapidly. They, including men, women, children, the elderly, the sick and people with special needs, are suffering the most.

Philip added: “The people of Gaza need everything: food, water, shelter, and mostly safety. The roads leading to the south are blocked.”

He said the path to water is limited, as the Israeli operation has blocked access to Gaza's largest desalination plant that previously provided water to 350,000 people.

Supplies and insufficient personnel.

“Allegations that the United Nations has thousands of tents and is planning to open new refugee camps in Rafah are false.

“We have said it repeatedly. We are saying it again. There is no safe place in Gaza, whether in the south or the southwest, whether in Rafah or anywhere.”

. Despite this, Israel continues to restrict the flow of humanitarian supplies, including fuel, forcing the United Nations to use only the ill-equipped crossing point with Egypt.

He said: We, Israel, call for reopening the Kerem Shalom crossing and other crossings and facilitating the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid unconditionally, without interruption, and in a meaningful manner. Failure to do so constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.

“The end of the humanitarian truce has already brought more suffering, loss and grief to civilians wherever they are. We call for a humanitarian ceasefire.”