The Director-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said on Saturday that the agency is “threatened with death” as a result of the cutting of its funding from some Western countries, most notably the United States, alleging that its employees participated in the attack on October 7, 2023.

Lazzarini said in an interview with the Swiss network RTS, "The agency is threatened with death. It is at risk of dismantling."

He added: "What is at risk is the short-term fate of the Palestinians today in Gaza, who are going through an unprecedented humanitarian crisis."

He explained that he is anticipating that the head of the group charged with conducting an independent review of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Catherine Colonna, will announce her final report (on UNRWA’s ability to work impartially) within a few weeks - after Israeli allegations about the participation of agency employees in the Hamas attack on Israel in October 7.

Lazaini expressed cautious optimism that some donors would resume funding for UNRWA after the publication of the Colonna report.

The independent review group for UNRWA's work was established on February 5, and consists of the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Sweden, the Michelsen Institute in Norway, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

Former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna was appointed head of the group.

Since January 26, 18 countries and the European Union have suspended their funding to UNRWA, against the backdrop of Israeli allegations that employees of the agency participated in the attack on settlements adjacent to the Gaza Strip on October 7, while the agency announced that it is investigating these allegations.