Israeli attacks and the sabotage of infrastructure in Gaza are being used to force Palestinians to “leave or starve,” according to the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
Philippe Lazzarini said that the Israeli authorities are employing these tactics, including blocking vital aid, to displace civilians in northern Gaza, which he said violates international humanitarian law.
Lazzarini highlighted that civilians should not be forcibly displaced and called for their protection. He also warned that actions in Gaza have crossed “too many red lines” and urged for a ceasefire, noting the potential for war crimes.
He expressed concern over the ongoing Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, which have killed nearly 43,000, including children, and described the collapse of Gaza’s health system due to communication outages. Since September 30, the UN has been unable to deliver aid to Gaza, and key services, including health centers and water supplies, have been severely disrupted.
Over the past year, Israel’s actions in Gaza have displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million people, killed more than 42,000 Palestinians, and worsened famine and disease conditions. Mediation efforts for a ceasefire, led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar, have failed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to stop the war. Israel now also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
