Tue Jan 28 18:18:43 UTC 2025: **Israel’s UNRWA Ban Threatens Gaza Recovery, Warns UN Official**
GAZA CITY – The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has issued a stark warning that Israel’s impending ban on the organization will severely hamper humanitarian efforts in Gaza and jeopardize the fragile ceasefire. The ban, set to take effect Thursday, will cripple UNRWA’s ability to deliver aid to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, Lazzarini told the UN Security Council Tuesday.
Lazzarini described the ban as a catastrophic move that will “heighten instability and deepen despair” at a critical time for Gaza, still reeling from over a year of conflict that has left over 47,000 dead and over 111,000 wounded, according to Palestinian health authorities. The ban will undermine ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts, erode trust in the international community, and threaten peace prospects, he added. UNRWA manages vital services, including schools and shelters that were repeatedly targeted during the conflict.
The United States, a key Israeli ally, defended Israel’s decision, with Washington’s envoy to the Security Council calling UNRWA’s assessment of the impact “exaggerated.” However, UN officials and experts widely anticipate the ban to have devastating consequences.
Israel’s actions include cutting all contact with UNRWA, banning Israeli officials from dealing with the agency, and ordering the closure of UNRWA offices in areas under Israeli control. This comes despite UNRWA’s instrumental role in delivering aid under the recently brokered ceasefire, which has seen the release of hostages and the partial return of displaced Palestinians to their homes, a journey described by Al Jazeera as “overwhelming and exhausting” for those returning to find their homes in ruins.
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