UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has issued a grave warning over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, describing the current aid blockade as a “deadly scam” that is deepening collective punishment and starvation among Palestinians.

His remarks, posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, underscore the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access, and accountability.

“800 starving people killed: shot at while trying to get little food in Gaza,” Lazzarini wrote, in one of his most forceful public statements to date. “Take action to end the atrocities and put an end to the cycle of impunity.”

Lazzarini contrasted the current situation with the brief period of ceasefire late last year, during which UN agencies were able to deliver large-scale and dignified humanitarian aid. During the truce, 500 to 600 aid trucks entered Gaza daily, carrying food, fuel, medicine, and hygiene kits. The UN had established 400 aid distribution points—compared to just four or fewer today, most of which are located far from the populations in need.

“During the ceasefire, the UN provided assistance at scale. The trend of deepening starvation was reversed,” Lazzarini noted. “Now, very little dry food is sent as malnutrition among children spreads.”

He warned that thousands of trucks packed with life-saving aid remain stranded. At least 6,000 UNRWA aid trucks, loaded with food, medical supplies, and basic necessities, have been awaiting entry into Gaza for more than four months, with many supplies now expiring.

Addressing allegations that UN aid had been diverted to Hamas, Lazzarini said these claims were never raised in official meetings, and remain unproven and unsubstantiated. Despite this, he added, a functioning international aid mechanism has been dismantled and replaced by a chaotic system that exacerbates suffering.

“A functioning system was replaced with a deadly scam to force the displacement of people and deepen the collective punishment of the Palestinians in Gaza,” he wrote.

His comments echo mounting criticism from humanitarian groups that Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza and refusal to allow UN aid convoys is not just worsening a famine but constitutes a deliberate tactic of war.

In a chilling comparison, Lazzarini invoked the Srebrenica genocide, referencing the failure of the international community to protect civilians during the Bosnian War in the 1990s.

“Thirty years ago, we reiterated ‘never again’ in Srebrenica,” he wrote, implying that the world may again be turning a blind eye to a preventable humanitarian catastrophe.

Lazzarini concluded his statement by urging global powers and institutions to act now: “Allow the UN, including UNRWA, to do its work in Gaza. Reach a ceasefire now. Lift the siege. Release the hostages.”

His plea comes amid intensifying calls from international agencies, humanitarian groups, and rights organizations warning that Gaza is on the brink of a man-made famine while Israeli restrictions and political obstacles continue to block life-saving relief.

UNRWA remains the primary provider of education, health, and food assistance to over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza, many of whom are now internally displaced and cut off from basic resources. (ILKHA)