Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), told the United Nations Security Council last April that “an insidious campaign to end UNRWA’s operations is under way, with serious implications for peace and security”.

Requests by the relief and works agency, responsible for providing welfare and aid to Palestinians, notably in northern Gaza, had been rebuffed. Its staff had been barred from coordinating meetings between other humanitarian agents, along with Israeli officials. UNRWA premises and staff had also been targeted.

See also

This, it transpired, was a foretaste of things to come.

Israel’s campaign against UNWRA has been a sickening reminder of its necessity, in the aftermath of 1948.

Following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, UNRWA was added to Israel’s “to-do” list.

An international accusation campaign that the UN body employed Hamas sympathisers,........

© Green Left Weekly