Lazzarini stressed that his visit aims to improve humanitarian aid operations in the Gaza Strip (French)

The Director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, confirmed on Monday that Israel had refused him entry into Gaza, at a time when famine is looming over the Strip and the Israeli war there continues for the 164th day.

The director of the UN agency explained that he intended to go to Rafah today, Monday, but he was informed an hour ago that his entry was refused, pointing out that famine was imminent in the northern Gaza Strip.

Anadolu Agency quoted Lazzarini - following a press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry in Cairo - as saying, “The Israeli authorities prevent me from entering Gaza,” while Shukri said, “To be clear and clear, it is the Israeli government that prevented it, not Egypt, and this is a position.” "Unprecedented against a UN official."

Sameh Shukri (right) confirmed that it was Israel that prevented the entry of UN Commissioner Lazzarini, not Egypt (Reuters)

Shukri stressed the importance of the agency’s continued work to continue its responsibility towards the Palestinians, warning the international community of the danger of its disappearance, at a time when there has been no immediate comment from Israel regarding preventing the UN official from entering so far.

Lazzarini also wrote on the X platform, “On the day new data appeared on famine in Gaza, the Israeli authorities refused me entry,” noting that his visit aimed to improve humanitarian aid operations in the Strip.

Lazzarini said that the United Nations paid a "heavy price" in the Gaza Strip, noting the destruction of more than 150 agency facilities, the killing of 400 people, and the injury of more than a thousand others who were trying to turn to the United Nations for assistance.

On the day new data is out on famine in #GAZA, the Israeli Authorities deny my entry to Gaza.

-Famine is imminent in the northern Gaza Strip, expected to arrive between now and May.


– Two million people= the entire population of Gaza is facing crisis levels of food insecurity…

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) March 18, 2024

For her part, Director of Communications at UNRWA, Juliette Touma, told Reuters that Lazzarini had visited the Gaza Strip 4 times since the start of the war on October 7, and on other previous occasions, and confirmed, “We were ready to leave this morning on an Egyptian plane from Cairo to Al-Arish.

Palestinians go to an UNRWA building to obtain flour aid in Jabalia (Anatolia)

The agency had previously faced Israeli accusations of the involvement of 12 of its 13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip in the attack of last October 7 (the Al-Aqsa flood), which prompted many countries to suspend its funding against the backdrop of these allegations in the midst of humanitarian conditions described as catastrophic. In the sector.

Earlier this month, UNRWA accused Israel of torturing a number of its employees whom it arrested against the backdrop of the war launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip. The agency confirmed - in a statement - that its employees spoke about “horrific events during their arrest and interrogation by the Israeli authorities.”

Source: Al Jazeera + agencies