Israel Using Food Denial as a Weapon of War in Gaza – UNRWA Chief
Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), told the BBC that Israel is deliberately using food and humanitarian aid as a weapon of war in Gaza. He described this tactic as a war crime, noting that for more than two months, no aid has reached Gaza, pushing the population toward starvation. Lazzarini warned that people may soon die not from bombs but from hunger. According to the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the entire population of Gaza is facing acute food insecurity, with nearly half a million people in the most severe category, meaning they are at risk of starvation, malnutrition, and death. Tens of thousands of tons of essential aid are stuck just across the border in Egypt, unable to reach those in need due to the blockade.
Israeli leaders, including the defense and national security ministers, have openly acknowledged that the denial of aid is being used as a pressure tactic against Hamas. This strategy has drawn criticism not only from international observers but also from within Israel, where families of hostages and military reservists have protested the government’s actions, accusing it of prolonging the war for political gain. Philippe Lazzarini did not shy away from addressing the possibility of genocide, saying that the destruction in Gaza, the number of deaths, and the repeated displacement of civilians point toward massive atrocities that could fit the legal definition of genocide. He also condemned the global response, calling it passive and indifferent, and warned that the international community could be remembered for standing by while a humanitarian catastrophe unfolded.
Lazzarini stated that while the war began with the horrific Hamas attacks on 7 October, Israel’s response has been overwhelmingly disproportionate and has brought Gaza to the brink of collapse. He reflected on the long-term implications, expressing fear that the world may one day realize it stood on the wrong side of history. He warned against dangerous visions such as transforming Gaza into a Dubai-like city controlled by outside powers, which would erase the Palestinian presence entirely. With no real plan for peace and rising international outrage, the situation remains grim and unresolved.
