Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), has issued a scathing condemnation of Israel’s so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” (GHF), describing it as a cruel mechanism that delivers “nothing but starvation and gunfire” to Gaza’s desperate population.

In a powerful statement on X, Lazzarini exposed the GHF—backed by Israel and the United States—as a deadly sham that has exacerbated the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where over 2.3 million Palestinians face relentless bombardment, displacement, and famine.

“Since this scheme began, at least 500 starving people have been reported killed and nearly 4,000 injured while desperately struggling to get food,” Lazzarini declared, highlighting the lethal reality of Israel’s militarized aid distribution system. The GHF, implemented under the guise of humanitarian aid, has reduced Gaza’s aid distribution points from 400 to just four heavily militarized sites, turning food lines into ambush zones where Israeli forces have gunned down civilians, including women and children, seeking basic necessities.

Lazzarini’s remarks underscore Israel’s deliberate starvation policy, which has pushed Gaza to the brink of collapse. Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s blockade and relentless attacks have destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure, crippled its healthcare system, and left nearly all public hospitals inoperative. The UN and humanitarian organizations report that over 56,000 Palestinians—predominantly women and children—have been killed, while famine looms over the entire population. The GHF, far from alleviating this crisis, has weaponized aid distribution, forcing Palestinians to choose between starvation and risking death by gunfire at militarized checkpoints.

“Today, over 130 NGOs, including the Red Cross, Oxfam, and Doctors Without Borders, have joined UNRWA in demanding the immediate dismantling of the GHF and the restoration of a unified, UN-led aid coordination system grounded in international humanitarian law,” Lazzarini stated. He emphasized that only a return to UNRWA-led distribution can ensure safe and equitable access to aid, free from Israel’s draconian restrictions and lethal tactics.

The UNRWA chief’s condemnation comes amid growing international outrage over Israel’s systematic starvation tactics, which violate international humanitarian law and have been labeled as genocidal by human rights groups. Reports from Gaza describe scenes of desperation, with families scavenging for scraps amid rubble and facing constant Israeli airstrikes. The GHF’s militarized sites, often located in exposed areas, have become death traps, with documented cases of Israeli snipers targeting civilians waiting for flour or water.

Palestinian activists and survivors have echoed Lazzarini’s call, accusing Israel of using hunger as a weapon to break Gaza’s resilience. “The so-called ‘Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’ is a mockery of humanity,” said Mariam al-Khatib, a Gaza-based community organizer. “Israel blocks aid, bombs our homes, and then shoots us when we try to eat. This is not aid—it’s extermination.”

As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis spirals, with no essential services and food scarcity driving the population to desperation, Lazzarini’s statement amplifies the urgent need to end Israel’s starvation policy and hold its leadership accountable. The global community, including over 130 NGOs, is rallying for immediate action to restore UN-led aid distribution and ensure the survival of Gaza’s people, who continue to endure unimaginable suffering under Israel’s occupation and blockade. (ILKHA)