UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the UNRWA headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, December 6, 2023. (Credit: AFP)
Israeli authorities denied the chief of UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) permission to enter the Gaza Strip on Monday, Reuters reports. The block was announced by UNRWA and the Egyptian foreign minister, who called it an unprecedented move.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, speaking alongside Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during a Cairo news conference, said he had intended to go to Rafah on Monday "but I have been informed an hour ago that my entry into Rafah is declined." The majority of the population in Gaza has fled from Israeli bombardment to Rafah, which is also under bombardment, and where an impending Israeli invasion looms.
Shoukry told Lazzarini: "You were declined by the Israeli government, refused the entry, which is an unprecedented move for [a] representative at this high position."
Israel has denied Lazzarini permission to enter the territory as Palestinians in Gaza face a deepening humanitarian crisis, with a UN-backed report saying on Monday that famine is expected to set in in northern Gaza any time between now and May.