WASHINGTON: Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), accused Israel of orchestrating a plan to forcibly expel residents of Gaza into Egypt. Lazzarini highlighted the dire humanitarian situation exacerbated by the relentless Israeli bombardments since October 7, which have displaced the majority of Gaza’s population.
In a scathing opinion piece published in the Los Angeles Times on Saturday, the UNRWA chief expressed concern over the increasing concentration of displaced Palestinian civilians near the Gaza-Egypt border, stating that the developments indicate a push to move Palestinians into Egypt. Lazzarini emphasized that the United Nations and several member states, including the United States, have firmly rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
“The developments we are witnessing point to attempts to move Palestinians into Egypt, regardless of whether they stay there or are resettled elsewhere,” Lazzarini stated in the opinion piece.
Widespread Destruction and Displacements in Gaza
Lazzarini noted that the widespread destruction in the north of the Palestinian territory and the resulting displacements marked the first stage of what he termed a potential mass expulsion. He further warned that the forced relocation of Palestinian civilians from the southern city of Khan Younis closer to the border could be the next step in this alarming trajectory.
“If this path continues, leading to what many are already calling a second Nakba, Gaza will not be a land for Palestinians anymore,” Lazzarini asserted, referencing the Arabic term for the 1948 exodus or forced displacement of 760,000 Palestinians during the war coinciding with the creation of Israel.
While a limited number of Gazans have been allowed to cross into Egypt for medical treatment, the vast majority of the population remains trapped within the besieged territory. The estimated 1.9 million displaced people, out of a population of 2.4 million, have turned the border town of Rafah into a sprawling camp, with concerns growing about the impending humanitarian catastrophe.
The Israeli military campaign, spanning over two months, has resulted in a staggering death toll of at least 17,700 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Aid groups have raised alarms about the deteriorating humanitarian situation, describing it as “apocalyptic” and warning that Gaza is on the brink of being overwhelmed by disease and starvation.
