RRI.CO.ID. Jakarta : Philippe Lazzarini, the outgoing chief of UNRWA, has stepped down and is calling for an independent investigation into the killing of hundreds of staff in Gaza. On his final day, he urged the creation of a high-level panel to examine the deaths of nearly 400 staff, citing unchecked violence and impunity that risk fuelling a wider regional crisis.
Lazzarini condemned the fact that many UNRWA staff have been killed, injured, or detained in Gaza since the war began in 2023. He emphasized the need for accountability, stating that Israel's conduct of the war has crossed all red lines without consequences.
The UNRWA chief criticized the "extraordinary level of impunity" and argued that Israel appears to have "a licence to kill" in Gaza. He warned that this sense of impunity is spreading to other areas, including Lebanon.
Lazzarini has raised the issue with the UN Secretary-General's office and UN member states. He stressed that the international community's failure to respond sets the stage for a wider war outside international law.
The tensions between Israel and UNRWA have escalated since the war began, with Israel barring the agency from operating on its soil. UNRWA supports nearly six million Palestinian refugees across the region.
Israel's attacks on UNRWA, coupled with funding cuts, have put the agency at risk of collapse. Lazzarini warned that the consequences of this would be catastrophic.
No replacement has been appointed for Lazzarini, and UNRWA will be led by an acting commissioner, Christian Saunders, who will aim to keep the agency running.
The situation highlights the urgent need for accountability and support for UNRWA and its staff, who continue to work in challenging conditions.
Source: RFI.fr / afp
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