Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA Commissioner-General, addressed the United Nations General Assembly with a firm denouncement on Monday, describing Israel’s campaign against the agency as deliberate and backed by unsubstantiated charges. He noted that sixteen countries have suspended funding to UNRWA following Israel’s accusation that twelve of its 13,000 staff participated in Hamas attacks on October 7.
“UNRWA is facing a coordinated and deliberate effort to erode its operations and, ultimately, to shut them down,” the Swiss-Italian official stated, stressing that the agency’s ability to fulfill its mandate is seriously at risk. Lazzarini reminded listeners that the freeze on 16 nations’ contributions totaling 450 million dollars has placed the agency in a financial crisis. “We operate day by day; without further funds, we will cross into uncharted territory,” he warned, adding that UNRWA lacks the capacity to absorb financial blows, especially as the war in Gaza continues.
Direct criticisms of Israel
Lazzarini criticized Israel sharply for orchestrating those attacks against the agency. He recalled that the country has never provided more information than the report filed on January 18, after which the twelve named employees had their contracts terminated. A review of UN oversight, risk management, and neutrality within UNRWA was launched in response to that report.
On the same Monday, the Israeli army released audio recordings purportedly belonging to UNRWA staff, in which two employees acknowledge their involvement in the October 7 attacks. Israeli intelligence reportedly concluded that the agency employs more than 450 members linked to terrorist organizations in Gaza, principally Hamas.
These are accusations that Lazzarini continues to say are unproven. In his General Assembly remarks, he framed them as part of a pattern of behavior by Israel against UNRWA. He said donors are being flooded with disinformation designed to erode trust and damage the agency’s reputation. He reminded attendees that Israel’s prime minister has publicly stated that UNRWA “will not be part of Gaza after the war.”
Lazzarini also denounced the destruction of UNRWA infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and movement restrictions affecting staff in the West Bank, including access barriers to East Jerusalem. He argued that efforts to eliminate UNRWA’s role aim to sideline the organization from protecting Palestinian refugees and bear witness to their struggle. He noted that the agency has had to step in to fill the vacuum created by the lack of a genuine political solution and lasting peace. The attacks on UNRWA, he said, are attempts to change the long-established parameters for peace.
“ dismantling UNRWA will only serve those who oppose that peace,” he asserted, adding that such moves are myopic and would sacrifice a generation of children, sowing seeds of hatred, resentment, and future conflict.
Spain’s message
During the General Assembly session, Spain’s ambassador to the UN, along with Belgium, Slovenia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, and Portugal, conveyed support for UNRWA’s work and backed the investigations initiated by the UN to examine Israel’s accusations.
The Spanish diplomat expressed deep concern about efforts to undermine UNRWA and warned that the agency now faces a crisis that could have dire consequences when the population is on the verge of famine. He urged the countries that have frozen their funds to restore their contributions and appealed to those already donating to increase their support. He also praised the European Commission for allocating 50 million euros to UNRWA.