Overview

• UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini defends the agency against calls for its dismantlement, highlighting its essential role in Gaza's humanitarian crisis.
• Major donors, including the US, suspend funding to UNRWA following allegations of staff involvement in Hamas activities, exacerbating the funding crisis.
• Lazzarini warns of the dire consequences of a potential Israeli military incursion in Rafah, fearing significant civilian casualties and further humanitarian disaster.
• UNRWA's role in providing education and basic services to Palestinian refugees is deemed irreplaceable by Lazzarini, amid concerns over the agency's future.
• The UN and international community are urged to find a political solution to the Gaza crisis, with Lazzarini emphasizing the importance of UNRWA in any future transition.