Caroline Geniz mediates between Josep Borrell (right) and Philippe Lazzarini during the press conference (European)

European Union foreign policy official Josep Borrell warned of the catastrophic repercussions of the cessation of the services of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which the Belgian Minister of Development said there was no alternative to in the Gaza Strip, as UNRWA Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini warned of signs of famine in the northern Strip.

This came in a joint press conference that brought together the three (European Foreign Policy Coordinator, the Belgian Minister of Development and the Commissioner of UNRWA), in the Belgian capital, Brussels - today, Monday - before the meeting of the European Ministers of International Cooperation with the Commissioner of UNRWA.

The three officials unanimously agreed that they had not received any evidence to prove the Israeli allegations that agency employees participated in the “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack launched by Hamas on the seventh of last October.

Josep Borrell told reporters that the international community may have to rethink the issue of providing weapons to Israel. He also touched on the importance of continuing the work of UNRWA, saying, "Let us not forget that UNRWA provides services to two million people in Jordan, half a million people in Syria, half a million in Lebanon, and one million people in the West Bank."

He added, warning, "If this agency disappears, it will have catastrophic repercussions on 5 million and 600 thousand people. Because the matter is not related to the Palestinian Authority. Since the establishment of this organization 75 years ago, it has been the responsibility of the international community and not just those working in UNRWA. There is only one way to solve UNRWA, which is When there are no Palestinian refugees."

Borrell stressed that allegations of Hamas activity in UNRWA must be verified, adding, "It is no secret that the Israeli government wants to get rid of UNRWA so that it does not deal with the needs of Palestinian refugees."

For her part, Belgian Minister of International Cooperation and Development Caroline Jenes said that the situation in Gaza is the worst humanitarian crisis in decades. There are 1.2 million people trapped at the border with Rafah because the situation is very dangerous. The ministers demand an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and increased humanitarian access to Gaza.”

She continued, "With more than 60,000 wounded and 27,000 dead, and civilians still detained, humanitarian aid must reach Gaza to prevent genocide, as stipulated by international jurisprudence."

She also touched on the Israeli allegations regarding UNRWA, saying, “Our Israeli ambassador did not provide us with any information regarding the involvement of UNRWA employees in the October 7 attacks.”

Regarding the allegations themselves, Lazzarini said, “What Israel said regarding allegations of the involvement of UNRWA employees in the October attacks are just allegations. Israel did not share information or evidence with us in this regard, and we began an investigation carried out by independent external parties to review all the methods of work of the agency and its employees.”

He continued, "We feel growing concern about the military operations in Rafah. There is a great state of fear and panic in Gaza about the possible consequences of an imminent Israeli attack in Rafah. He added that there is a food shortage and signs of famine in the northern Gaza Strip. The crossing of UN aid trucks was stopped yesterday, and this caused... A number of Palestinians were killed."

It is noteworthy that 16 donor countries, including the United States and Britain, stopped funding UNRWA after the Israeli occupation authorities claimed that employees of the UN agency participated in the events of last October 7, but other countries insisted on continuing to fund the agency, considering that the role of UNRWA “Essential to address the humanitarian situation” in the Palestinian territories.

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies