Unprecedented Destruction in Gaza and Threats to UNRWA, Claims UN Official

BERLIN: Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has stated that the level of destruction in the Gaza Strip due to Israeli bombardment is "unprecedented," and accused Israel of attempting to dismantle the UN agency. According to Jordan News Agency, Lazzarini made these remarks during a press conference in Berlin. He highlighted the severe impact of the conflict on Gaza, where approximately 70 percent of the infrastructure has been destroyed. The UN official described the conditions for professional aid workers in Gaza as appalling and noted the extraordinary scale of the destruction. Lazzarini further disclosed that the majority of Gaza's population is now concentrated in an area that constitutes less than 10 percent of the region, with around 400,000 people trapped in the northern part of Gaza. He criticized Israel for restricting international media access to Gaza, which he claimed hampers transparent reporting from the region. Moreover, Lazzarini as serted that Israeli officials are actively pursuing legislative measures aimed at dismantling UNRWA, thereby threatening the existence of the agency that plays a crucial role in aiding Palestinian refugees.