Israel Blocks UNRWA Comm. Gen. from Entering Gaza

Author: Dian Kencana
March 20, 2024

Smoke rises after a series of Israeli strikes hit the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) training centre building, in Khan Yunis, Gaza, January 2024. Photo: ANTARA

SEAToday.com, Gaza-Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said Israel blocked him from entering Gaza on Monday (3/18). He said the action was taken after new information about the starvation in Gaza was released.

“Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, expected to arrive between now and May," Lazzarini stated on his X account (@UNLazzarini) on Monday.

Lazzarini said the reason he wanted to go to Gaza was to visit Rafah. However, at a press conference in Cairo with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, he stated that Israel forbade him to enter Gaza.

“But I was informed an hour ago that I was refused entry to Rafah,” said Lazzarini, quoted by Al-Arabiya.

Israel’s rejection of Lazzarini’s entry into Gaza was also confirmed by UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry also stated that it was the first time Israel had rejected a high-ranking UNRWA official. (GHINA/DKD)