Israel Will No Longer Allow Its Institution's Food Convoys to Gaza, UNRWA Head: This is Outrageous and Deliberate

UNRWA service at the Palestinian refugee shelter. (Twitter/@UNRWA)

JAKARTA - The head of the UN Palestine refugee agency (UNRWA) said on Sunday that Israel had informed the UN that it would no longer approve UNRWA food convoys heading to northern Gaza.

"It is outrageous and deliberate to obstruct life-saving assistance during a human-caused famine. These restrictions must be lifted," said UNRWA Head Philippe Lazzarini via social media platform X, quoted by Reuters 25 March.

"By preventing UNRWA from fulfilling its mandate in Gaza, time will move faster towards famine and many more will die from starvation, dehydration and lack of shelter," added Lazzarini.

Previously, in a separate post on X Lazzarini said that all UNRWA food convoys were refused entry to Gaza last week.

"With unhindered access, this artificial famine can still be prevented," he wrote.

UNRWA, which provides aid and services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and other territories, has been in crisis since Israel accused dozens of its staff of involvement in Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7.

The allegations prompted UNRWA's biggest donor, the United States and several other countries, to cut funding, throwing the agency's future into doubt.

However, recently other countries including Canada, Australia and Sweden have decided to restore the agency's funding.

Last week, UNRWA and Egypt said Lazzarini, who was visiting Cairo, had been refused entry to Gaza by Israeli authorities.