"The Head of UNRWA Exclaims Humanity's Decline amid Israel-Gaza Conflict"

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has pushed the Middle East to the brink of disaster, according to Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN relief agency UNRWA. Lazzarini expressed concerns that the violence could spread beyond the region and highlighted the dire situation for civilians in Gaza, urging for humanitarian aid corridors to be established. He emphasized the need for uninterrupted and meaningful assistance for the people of Gaza. Lazzarini condemned Hamas's attack on Israel, calling it a horrific and barbaric massacre, but also stressed that the war should not be conducted without restraint. He criticized the total siege being imposed on the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in the displacement of over a million people, highlighting that collective punishment is a violation of international humanitarian law. Lazzarini called on all parties involved to respect international humanitarian law and addressed the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where 2.2 million Palestinians, half of whom have been displaced, are severely lacking in basic necessities such as water and proper sanitation. The UN has warned of a potential humanitarian catastrophe without proper aid access. Lazzarini mentioned that aid deliveries have been uncertain since the recent attack by Hamas, but estimated that at least 100 trucks a day would be required for Gaza. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that supplies from Egypt to the civilian population in southern Gaza would not be obstructed, no aid has yet entered the territory. World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that supplies were ready to be delivered as soon as the Rafah crossing from Egypt opened. Lazzarini concluded by expressing the Palestinians' feeling of abandonment from the international community during the ongoing violence and the emotional toll it has taken on them as they struggle to survive.