Former UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has warned that Palestinians in the Gaza Strip could face a fate similar to that of Native Americans if the international community fails to take urgent action.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Lazzarini stressed that the situation in Gaza had already reached a critical point, warning that further international inaction could have devastating consequences for the Palestinian population.

“In Gaza, we know it is already too late, and if we do not act, the fate of Gaza’s population could be similar to that of Native Americans,” he said.

Lazzarini called for urgent and effective international intervention to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, warning that the continued failure to act threatens the survival of an already devastated population.

He described Gaza’s humanitarian crisis as one of the worst in modern history, pointing to widespread destruction, acute shortages of essential supplies and increasingly unbearable living conditions.

As Israel’s attacks and restrictions continue to compound the suffering of Palestinians, humanitarian organizations are struggling to provide even the most basic assistance to those in need.

The World Food Program (WFP) announced that it would reduce the number of Palestinians receiving assistance in Gaza from 1.6 million to 1.1 million this month because of funding shortages. The decision leaves approximately 500,000 people without the support they had previously received.

The cuts come as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain displaced, many of them living in overcrowded and unsafe shelters amid the destruction of homes and essential infrastructure.

On October 16, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that recent progress in combating malnutrition remained fragile, noting that approximately 800,000 children were still displaced and living in unsafe conditions.

According to available data, one in eight children under the age of five suffers from chronic malnutrition, while only one-third of children under two receive the minimum dietary diversity required for healthy development.

The figures underscore the devastating impact of the ongoing crisis on Palestinian children, who continue to face hunger, displacement and the loss of access to essential services.

The ceasefire agreement has failed to end the bloodshed in Gaza, with Palestinian civilians continuing to be killed by Israeli shelling and gunfire.

At least five Palestinians were killed on Tuesday, including a married couple whose apartment in Gaza City was targeted and a 17-year-old boy killed near Khan Yunis.

The deaths highlight the continued danger facing Palestinians despite the ceasefire, as attacks persist and residents remain exposed to violence in an enclave already devastated by Israel’s military campaign.

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire took effect has exceeded 1,500, according to the figures cited in the report.

Meanwhile, efforts to rebuild Gaza remain blocked by Israeli decisions, leaving Palestinians struggling to survive amid widespread destruction and continuing displacement.

With homes destroyed, humanitarian assistance shrinking and basic necessities increasingly difficult to obtain, the population faces multiple overlapping threats to survival.

Lazzarini’s warning adds to mounting international concerns over the future of Gaza’s Palestinian population and the consequences of continued inaction.

As Palestinians endure renewed attacks and worsening humanitarian conditions, calls are growing for the international community to move beyond expressions of concern and take effective measures to protect civilians, secure sustained humanitarian access and ensure that Gaza’s devastated communities can begin to rebuild their lives. (ILKHA)