UNRWA Chief: End Israel’s Offensive, Gaza Face Hell on Earth!
Philippe Lazzarini says nearly 700 days of war have brought unprecedented destruction, mass civilian deaths, and looming famine
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM — UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has issued one of his most urgent appeals yet for an immediate end to “Israel’s” military campaign in Gaza, warning of unparalleled levels of destruction and human suffering as the conflict nears its second anniversary.
“Nowhere and No One in Gaza is Safe”
Posting on X, Lazzarini declared that “nowhere and no one in Gaza is safe” as the Israeli military continues to escalate operations.
“Nearly 700 days on, people continue to be killed & injured as the Israeli military intensifies & expands its operations,” he wrote.
He described the humanitarian situation as catastrophic, with hospitals, schools, shelters, and homes subjected to relentless attacks. “Health staff, journalists & humanitarian workers have been killed at a scale never seen in any other conflict in recent history,” Lazzarini cautioned.
Starvation, he added, has emerged as another lethal threat: “And as if all of this is not enough, hunger is threatening everyone in Gaza with a slow & silent death or in a death while desperately seeking food.”
Condemning Impunity and Denial
Lazzarini criticized the lack of accountability for the ongoing atrocities, noting that such actions have been dismissed as “mishaps” while the famine is openly denied.
“Nothing justifies these massive attacks on Palestinian life & identity. Outrage is not enough. It’s time for action, courage & political will to end this hell on earth,” he concluded.
Repeated Warnings Since Start of War
Since the outbreak of the war, Lazzarini has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the situation in Gaza.
In May 2025, he condemned “Israel’s” so-called aid distribution model as “chaotic, undignified and unsafe,” arguing that it served as a distraction from atrocities taking place on the ground.
Earlier, in Geneva, he warned that child malnutrition had risen six-fold since March, cautioning that without immediate intervention “many children will be condemned.” His public statements have consistently underscored how “Israel’s” siege has pushed Gaza’s civilian population to the brink of famine.
UNRWA Under Direct Fire
The agency Lazzarini heads has itself been repeatedly targeted. Israeli strikes have hit UNRWA facilities, including schools and health centers sheltering displaced civilians.
In September 2024, the bombing of the al-Jawni School in Nuseirat killed more than 18 people, including six UNRWA staff members, marking the deadliest attack on the agency during the war.
Targeting Lazzarini and Restricting UNRWA Operations
Lazzarini has also been personally targeted by Israeli authorities. Officials have accused him of harboring Hamas collaborators within UNRWA — allegations he addressed by dismissing implicated staff and launching internal investigations.
At the same time, “Israel” has restricted his movement, reducing his residence permit to a monthly visa and subjecting him to intrusive searches.
In late 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed legislation banning UNRWA from operating within its jurisdiction, a move Lazzarini condemned as an effort to erase Palestinian refugee rights and dismantle the agency entirely. (PW)
Source: Al-Mayadeen