Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has forcefully rejected a proposed Israeli aid delivery model for Gaza, denouncing it as both “unworkable” and contrary to the very principles of humanitarian action.

Published on UNRWA’s official Facebook page, Lazzarini’s remarks expose what many see as the deeply politicized nature of Israel’s so-called “aid” operations. “It is not possible for a humanitarian organization, which truly respects the basic humanitarian principles, to adhere to such a scheme,” Lazzarini stated, pointing out that the framework appears to serve Israeli military objectives rather than the desperate needs of besieged Palestinians.

“I do not think that such a model will succeed,” he added, emphasizing that the proposal is not only impractical but also fundamentally flawed in its intent — prioritizing control and optics over human lives.

These remarks come as the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to spiral. According to the World Food Programme, nearly two million Palestinians are now facing catastrophic levels of hunger and the looming threat of famine — the direct result of Israel’s ongoing blockade and systematic destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure.

Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly condemned the weaponization of aid by Israeli authorities, accusing them of using food and medicine as tools of collective punishment. Lazzarini’s comments echo those concerns, highlighting how Israel’s plans not only obstruct relief efforts but also strip them of their moral and humanitarian core.

Palestinian rights advocates argue that any genuine humanitarian response must be unconditional and free from Israeli interference. “What is needed is full and unrestricted humanitarian access, not a militarized scheme disguised as aid,” one UNRWA official noted.

As Gaza continues to suffer under a brutal siege, voices like Lazzarini’s are a stark reminder that international silence or complicity only deepens the suffering. The world must act — not on Israeli terms, but on the basis of justice, humanity, and the undeniable right of Palestinians to live with dignity. (ILKHA)