If UN member states allow Israel to dismantle the only agency that provides education and health services to Palestinians, all other UN agencies could face the same fate, the outgoing commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) has told Middle East Eye.
In his final interview in the role, Philippe Lazzarini accused the international community of paying lip service to what he described as Israel's attempts to dismantle Unrwa, an objective he said had become a declared war aim.
"The agency has come under massive, massive attack," he told the David Hearst Podcast.
"We have had 391 personnel killed. A few weeks ago, our main headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah was stormed, demolished and set on fire, with officials from the government and parliament expressing jubilation and even arguing over who should take credit.
"We have also faced a massive disinformation campaign. We have had legal cases and three laws passed to try to dismantle us. So yes, there is deep frustration and disappointment that a UN agency has been so blatantly crushed without real action from member states or the international community. The attack on us has taken place with total impunity," he added.
