The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, stressed on Tuesday UNRWA's commitment to implementing its mandate despite challenges, in light of increasing political pressures and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

In his remarks before the official missions of member states to the United Nations in Geneva, Lazzarini stressed the importance of continued international support for UNRWA to ensure the provision of essential services to Palestinian refugees in all its areas of operation.

He pointed out that the occupation has been preventing humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip for ten days, reverting the situation to what it was on October 8, 2023. He emphasized that this decision threatens the lives of civilians who have suffered for more than 16 months of ongoing war.

He said the ceasefire had demonstrated the possibility of humanitarian access, with a tenfold increase in aid deliveries from the start of the ceasefire until March 2. He stressed the need to allow aid access to maintain the progress achieved in the first phase of the ceasefire and meet the basic needs of the population.

Lazzarini highlighted the deteriorating situation in the West Bank as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression, particularly in the northern West Bank, pointing to the occupation's policies of emptying several camps and displacing approximately 40,000 Palestinian refugees, the largest displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank since 1967.

He also expressed concern over the large-scale demolitions of residential areas, leaving residents without shelter to return to, adding that UNRWA continues to track the displaced and provide humanitarian assistance, including food, healthcare, and basic needs.

He said that the agency in Syria continues to provide health and education services that are vital for the survival of Palestinian refugees, and that in Lebanon, Palestinian refugees depend on its services.

Lazzarini emphasized that the Israeli Knesset's decisions do not only target UNRWA, but also any individual or organization that calls for adherence to international humanitarian law or defends Palestinian rights. He explained that many international non-governmental organizations are targeted, with the goal of silencing them.

He pointed to Israel's increasing efforts to restrict the work of international organizations through legislative measures, stating that UNRWA has faced serious operational challenges since anti-UNRWA legislation came into effect last January. He noted that the agency is under increasing pressure from the Israeli municipality in Jerusalem to evacuate its headquarters and end its services in occupied East Jerusalem. The occupation has also refused to renew the visas of the agency's international staff from the West Bank. In Gaza, some international UNRWA teams remain present, but Israel refuses to facilitate their entry or exit through the Kerem Shalom crossing, further complicating the agency's operations in the Strip.

Lazzarini reviewed some of the Agency's achievements since the ceasefire began in Gaza, including: providing food aid to nearly two million people, opening nearly 40 new emergency shelters, providing more than 60,000 tents to shelter displaced people, supporting a polio vaccination campaign that benefited some 200,000 children under the age of 10, and providing education to some 250,000 children through distance learning, with 70% of them now continuing their studies via a digital platform. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, the Agency continues to provide education to some 50,000 children, in addition to providing health services to hundreds of thousands of refugees.

Lazzarini warned of the danger of the ongoing misinformation campaign portraying UNRWA as a terrorist organization and accusing its employees of supporting terrorism. He emphasized that countering these allegations requires impartial journalistic scrutiny based on facts and official sources, noting that the absence of independent international media coverage of Gaza since October 2023 has exacerbated this misinformation campaign.

He stressed that UNRWA's financial situation is extremely critical, and that there is an urgent need for additional financial support to ensure the continuation of the agency's operations. He emphasized that UNRWA's continued existence is no longer a traditional option, as crucial decisions must be made regarding its future.

Larrazini presented two main scenarios: the first is the collapse of the agency as a result of a disinformation campaign, Israeli legislation, and the cessation of funding from donor countries, which would create a dangerous vacuum in the occupied Palestinian territory and have devastating repercussions. The second is supporting UNRWA to continue providing its services gradually until a comprehensive political solution is reached.

He pointed out that dismantling UNRWA would not lead to an end to the Palestinian refugee issue, urging countries to continue their support, stressing that the agency's role is to continue providing services and delivering humanitarian aid.

In turn, the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi, emphasized the pivotal role played by UNRWA in supporting Palestinian refugees, noting that it is not merely a relief agency, but rather a part of the history of the Palestinian people.

Khraishi criticized the international community's failure to compel Israel to respect the Geneva Conventions, particularly Article 4 on the protection of civilians, and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. He explained that despite the efforts made, the international community has been unable to convene a meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions to impose legal obligations on the occupation.

He commended Norway's role in referring the issue of the occupying power's responsibilities to the International Court of Justice regarding Israel's violation of international law by preventing the United Nations, international humanitarian organizations, and states from providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians under occupation.

He stressed the need to affirm and protect UN Resolution 194, which stipulates the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, noting that Israeli policies aim to abolish this right and impose a new reality on the ground.

Khraishi strongly condemned the occupation's decision to cut off electricity to the Gaza Strip, describing it as an act that amounts to genocide. He noted that the International Court of Justice has already issued three interim measures against Israel, but the occupation continues to violate the court's rulings without any international accountability.

He said that Israel is the only country in the world that refuses to abide by its international legal obligations without any consequences, stressing that the international community must increase pressure on the occupying power to halt its violations, implement UN resolutions, and ensure that there is no impunity.

Representatives of dozens of countries and international organizations attended the meeting, expressing their support for UNRWA and their rejection of Israeli attempts to undermine its work. They emphasized that the agency plays a vital role in providing services to millions of Palestinian refugees.

Speakers unanimously agreed that the continued obstruction of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip constitutes a flagrant violation of international law. They called on Israel to respect its obligations, noting that halting or weakening UNRWA funding would create a dangerous humanitarian vacuum and increase instability in the region.

Several countries, including Germany, Canada, China, Russia, and France, emphasized the importance of ensuring sustainable funding for UNRWA. Several countries, such as Singapore, announced additional financial contributions, while others emphasized the need to intensify diplomatic pressure on Israel to halt its violations. Some countries also expressed concern about media disinformation campaigns targeting the agency.

Participants also agreed on the need to continue supporting UNRWA until a just and comprehensive political solution to the Palestinian issue is reached.

The most prominent countries attending the meeting were: Jordan, Brazil, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Iraq, Luxembourg, Monaco, Iran, France, Finland, Ireland, Egypt, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Spain, Syria, Lebanon, China, Sudan, Slovenia, Montenegro, Thailand, Qatar, Knights of Malta, Denmark, Malta, Germany, Canada, Algeria, Turkey, Mexico, Singapore, Azerbaijan, European Union, Malaysia, Russia, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Sultanate of Oman, Philippines, Venezuela, Japan, Australia, Uganda, Bolivia, Moldova, Iceland, Norway, Kenya, Poland, Morocco, Brunei, Colombia, Cyprus, Greece, Liechtenstein, Swaziland, Myanmar, South Africa, Indonesia, Netherlands, Croatia, Serbia, Kuwait, Sweden, in addition to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.