Before His Departure.. Lazarini Calls for an Investigation into the Killing of UNRWA Employees

SadaNews - Philip Lazarini, the Commissioner of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), stated today, Tuesday, that discussions are currently underway for a UN investigation into the killing of more than 390 of its employees during the Israeli war on Gaza, which has made it the deadliest conflict in the Agency's history.

Lazarini mentioned in a press conference held in Geneva on the last day of his term that "I believe we need to form a committee, a high-level expert committee, to investigate the killing of our staff."

He added that he raised the issue with the office of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and with member states in New York.

He clarified that "part of the reason this has not yet been activated is that the conflict is still ongoing," referring to the continued Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire that came into effect in October.

Over the past two years, UNRWA facilities in Gaza have suffered direct and indirect strikes from Israeli occupation forces, resulting in the martyrdom of hundreds of its employees.

Lazarini had previously stated that the vast majority of the employees were killed by the Israeli army alongside their children and loved ones, with many of them killed while performing "their duty to serve their communities."

He explained that most of the dead were health workers and teachers affiliated with the UN, who support their communities.

Since the ceasefire agreement in Gaza came into effect last October, Israel has committed hundreds of violations through bombing and gunfire, resulting in the martyrdom of 704 Palestinians and the injury of 1914 others, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Health in the sector.

The Israeli war on Gaza has left more than 72,000 martyrs and 172,000 injured, with immense destruction affecting 90% of civilian infrastructure. The United Nations estimated the cost of reconstructing the sector at approximately 70 billion dollars.

Lazarini, who will be temporarily succeeded by the British Christian Saunders, warned earlier this month that the agency's ability to survive is at stake and that any collapse of it would mean Israel taking over its humanitarian responsibilities.

The UN General Assembly established UNRWA in December 1949, and the agency employs about 18,000 staff in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including 13,000 in the education sector and 1,500 in the health sector, providing support to Palestinian refugees both internally and in neighboring countries.