The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has criticised Israel for using food and humanitarian aid as a weapon in Gaza, Wafa reports.

In a post shared on X, Lazzarini reflected on the dire situation in Gaza, where Israeli occupation forces have been waging a “genocidal onslaught” for 18 months. He noted that hunger and despair are rampant in Gaza, as Israel uses food and humanitarian supplies as tools of warfare.

Lazzarini pointed out that Israel has imposed a tight blockade on Gaza for over a month, preventing the entry of essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel. He described this as a form of collective punishment against the civilian population.

“People [of Gaza] are exhausted as they continue to be locked up in a tiny piece of land,” Lazzarini said. “Aid must be allowed in and the siege must be lifted.”

The situation in Gaza worsened dramatically in early March 2025, when the Israeli occupation closed the crossings into the Gaza Strip, halting the entry of essential humanitarian, relief, and medical supplies. This has led to an unprecedented deterioration in the humanitarian conditions in the region.