Unrwa chief says Israel's banning of operations will undermine Gaza ceasefire

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa), said the implementation of a ban on the agency's operations inside Israel would cripple its ability to work in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, where a fragile ceasefire currently remains in place.

Lazzarini told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the ban would "heighten instability and deepen despair in the occupied Palestinian territory at a critical moment".

“The relentless assault on UNRWA is harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory," he said.

“It is eroding their trust in the international community, jeopardising any prospect for peace and security.”

An Israeli law, which was adopted in October and goes into effect on Thursday, bans Unrwa's operations in Israel. The law says this would include occupied East Jerusalem, though it is recognised internationally as Palestinian land.

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