“UNRWA Chief Warns of ‘Devastating Consequences’ as Israel Pushes to Close Agency Following School Bombing” 2024-09-13

The head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for in the Near East (UNRWA), , has stated that there is a concerted effort to dismantle the agency, particularly following a recent incident where Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of 18 individuals at an UNRWA school in Gaza. Lazzarini emphasized that the closure of UNRWA would have "devastating consequences" for the Palestinian population and called for a thorough investigation into the bombing. In a recent interview, Lazzarini expressed concerns that the Israeli government is actively working to eliminate the agency, especially after failing to convince Western donors to withdraw their financial support. This push is reportedly based on allegations regarding potential connections between UNRWA staff and Hamas.

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Question 1: What recent event has prompted the UNRWA commissioner general to speak out about the agency's future?

Answer: The recent bombing of an UNRWA school in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people, has prompted Philippe Lazzarini to express concerns about the agency's future and the campaign to close it down.

Question 2: What is the Israeli government's stance towards UNRWA, according to Philippe Lazzarini?

Answer: Philippe Lazzarini stated that the Israeli government is actively seeking to close down UNRWA, especially after failing to convince western donors to withdraw funding based on allegations of links between UNRWA staff and Hamas.

Question 3: What does Lazzarini warn would be the consequences of closing UNRWA?

Answer: Lazzarini warns that the closure of UNRWA would have "devastating consequences" for the Palestinian population that relies on the agency for support and services.

Question 4: What does Lazzarini call for in light of the bombing incident?

Answer: Lazzarini calls for an investigation into the deadly strike on the UNRWA school, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding the attack.

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