Unrwa chief accuses Israel of weaponising aid to Gaza

The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has accused Israel of "weaponizing" humanitarian aid by blocking supplies and electricity from entering the Gaza Strip to achieve its goals. Speaking in Geneva, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned that the Gaza Strip faces a new wave of hunger crisis if aid supplies are not restored. Israel stopped all aid from entering earlier this month, citing Hamas' rejection of a US proposal to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire.

Israel also cut off electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip over the weekend, a move condemned by the UK and Germany. Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen said the move was aimed at "bringing back all the hostages and ensuring that Hamas no longer exists in Gaza after the war." Aid supplies increased tenfold after the ceasefire began, alleviating food shortages and restoring some medical services. However, these supplies have now been cut off, as has the electricity that powers the main desalination plants.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this would greatly reduce the supply of drinking water in the Gaza Strip. Spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: "The Secretary-General is very concerned about Israel's decision to restrict access to electricity supplies in the Gaza Strip. This latest decision will greatly reduce the supply of drinking water in the Gaza Strip. From today, the facility will rely on backup generators, which will reduce water production capacity. Restoring this connection is essential for tens of thousands of families and children." The Israeli government has also said it does not rule out cutting off the water supply.

Lazzarini also criticized Israel's move to cut off aid and electricity, saying it is expected to have an increasing impact on local residents. He said: "Clearly, the risk is that we will return to the situation we experienced a few months ago, with increased levels of hunger in the Gaza Strip. Regardless of the intention, this is clearly a weaponization of humanitarian aid. We are seeing the situation deteriorate very, very quickly." Israel has banned UNRWA, citing its staff members' support for Hamas, and said other aid agencies should step in. But they have also been prevented from entering Gaza.

Lazzarini said the only viable alternative for the agency is "a capable Palestinian institution within the State of Palestine." He said UNRWA is continuing to operate in Gaza and the West Bank, adding that the Israeli ban poses "serious operational challenges" to it. Meanwhile, Israeli negotiators will travel to Qatar to negotiate an extension of the Gaza ceasefire. Israel hopes Hamas will accept a proposal to extend the first phase of the ceasefire. But Hamas wants to begin negotiating the second phase of the ceasefire, which would include the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a permanent end to the war.

Hamas is believed to be holding 24 living hostages and the bodies of another 35 people. Hamas killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 hostages in the October 2023 attacks. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel's military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, but the ministry did not say how many of the dead were militants.