Civilians In Gaza Have No Choice, UNRWA Head: Too Many Red Lines Crossed

Head of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini. (Twitter/@UNLazzarini)

JAKARTA - UN Refugee Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini said civilians in the northern Gaza Strip had no choice but to leave or eat.

"The health system has collapsed," he said in an upload on X, quoted from WAFA October 15.

"We were unable to contact our team due to the disconnection of the telecommunications network. The UN has not been allowed to provide any assistance, including food since September 30. Two crossing points to northern Gaza have been closed since then," he continued.

The most severely affected Jabalia Camp, about 50,000 people were forced to flee. Basic services, including those from UNRWA, have been disrupted or forced to be suspended including our UNRWA health center, while only two water wells are operating", added Lazzarini.

Such attacks, sabotage of civilian infrastructure and intentional rejection of essential aid continue to be used as tactics by Israeli authorities to force people to flee, he stressed.

"International humanitarian law is clear: people cannot be forcibly moved, civilians must be protected at any time and given access to basic needs if they choose to stay," he explained.

"In Gaza, too many red lines have been violated. What may be war crimes can still be prevented," he said.

UNRWA's Commissioner-General also called for an immediate ceasefire.

"It's not too late to show courage and humanity," he said.