By Janet Ekstract NEW YORK –United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini is calling on countries to back an independent probe into Israel’s killings and detentions of UNRWA staff as well as damage to its compound in Gaza. Lazzarini said 182 UNRWA staff were killed in Israel’s bombardments with over 160 of its shelters attacked that caused the death of hundreds of people trying to escape Israel’s airstrikes. Earlier this week, Lazzarini briefed U.N. members states in Geneva, telling the press he wants an independent investigation of Israel’s actions in Gaza. As Lazzarini commented “to look into this blatant disregard of the United Nations in order to avoid that this becomes the new standard in the future.” The UNRWA chief also said that Israel blocked him entering Gaza in April and that he plans to visit on Sunday, saying he hopes Israel will let him in. The controversy began when Israel accused some UNRWA staff of working with Hamas, an allegation that has so far proven to be untrue, according to reports. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu called for UNRWA to be shuttered, claiming the agency works with Hamas but the U.N. said Israel hasn’t provided and evidence of its accusations though the U.N. is currently conducting an investigation. Due to Israel’s claims, a number of countries had withdrawn funds to UNRWA but Lazzarini said that most of the countries have now unblocked funds. Lazzarinni said the U.S., Britain, Austria and his native Switzerland are still withholding funds. Though, he did add that in Switzerland, the lower house’s foreign affairs committee voted to partly unblock financial aid to UNRWA only for humanitarian purposes, but still requires further approval. Despite $267M currently being blocked, Lazzarini said UNRWA did raise $115 million in private funding.
Meanwhile, regarding the humanitarian aid issue – on May 1, the Israeli army claimed that the Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing with the Gaza Strip was opened to allow humanitarian aid in for the first time since October 7. A military statement said that “30 trucks of humanitarian aid including food and medical supplies for the northern part of Gaza, arrived from Jordan and entered Gaza today.” On the same day, Gaza’s media office said Israel’s claims about increased aid weren’t true, saying that “Only 419 trucks were allowed into northern Gaza,” according to Salama Marouf, head of the Gaza media office. But he reported that 4,887 aid trucks entered Gaza including 1,166 from Rafah crossing with Egypt and 3,721 from Kerem Shalom terminal with Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that even though there has been “demonstrable progress” on getting more humanitarian aid into Gaza, “more needs to be done.” Blinken who was in Israel on his last stop of a regional tour, to get a ceasefire deal said: “We are pressing to make sure aid is actually getting to people in an effective way, and that it includes more than just food – water, sanitation, medical supplies.”
