The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has accused Israel of weaponising food and humanitarian aid in Gaza, in what he described as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.
In a post on the platform X, Lazzarini stated that hunger and despair are spreading across Gaza as a result of Israel’s tightened blockade, which has severely restricted access to essential goods such as food, medicine, and fuel. He stressed that this blockade amounts to collective punishment, which is prohibited under international law.
The Israeli authorities have maintained a crippling siege on Gaza for more than six months, with conditions deteriorating drastically following the closure of all border crossings on 2 March. According to UN and human rights reports, this has led to the near-total collapse of civilian infrastructure in the besieged territory.
The United Nations and human rights organisations have repeatedly warned that the deliberate starvation of civilians constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions — a position echoed by UN Human Rights Council experts.
Lazzarini emphasised that Palestinians in Gaza are exhausted and trapped in an increasingly uninhabitable space, facing catastrophic humanitarian conditions. He called for the immediate lifting of the blockade and the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance.
This warning comes as Israel’s US-backed military offensive on Gaza continues into its sixth month. Since 7 October 2023, more than 165,000 Palestinians — the majority of them women and children — have been killed or wounded, according to local health and human rights reports. Over 11,000 people remain missing beneath the rubble.
Israel’s conduct in Gaza — including the deliberate use of starvation, indiscriminate attacks, and the targeting of civilians — amounts to serious violations of international humanitarian law. Yet, the lack of meaningful international accountability and the ongoing complicity of major powers continue to deepen the suffering of Gaza’s 2.3 million besieged residents.
