The head of the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has warned that “the worst is yet to come” in Gaza as Israeli forces intensified air and ground operations in the besieged territory.
“Israeli forces bombardment continues from air and sea for the third day,” Lazzarini wrote on X, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian crisis. He noted that the ongoing ground invasion was further fragmenting Gaza, separating the north from the south.
Israel resumed its military offensive on Wednesday, issuing what it described as a “last warning” for hostages to be returned and Hamas to be removed from power. Heavy airstrikes since Tuesday have resulted in at least 504 deaths, including over 190 children, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. Rescuers reported at least 10 more fatalities in a pre-dawn bombing near Khan Yunis on Thursday.
Lazzarini condemned the suffering endured by civilians, describing it as an “endless unleashing of the most inhumane ordeals.” He also criticized Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid, which has been in place since early March, and the mass displacement of Palestinians. “Evacuation orders forcing people to flee were issued, impacting tens of thousands,” he said, adding that many civilians had already been displaced multiple times since the war began nearly 1.5 years ago.
The latest escalation shattered a fragile truce that had been in place since mid-January. Lazzarini called for an immediate renewal of the ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid access.
The initial ceasefire, which largely halted fighting for over 15 months, expired earlier this month due to a deadlock in negotiations. Israel rejected further talks on a second phase of the truce, instead demanding the return of all hostages under an extended first stage, a proposal Hamas dismissed as an attempt to renegotiate the original deal.
“Israeli forces bombardment continues from air and sea for the third day,” Lazzarini wrote on X, expressing deep concern over the humanitarian crisis. He noted that the ongoing ground invasion was further fragmenting Gaza, separating the north from the south.
Israel resumed its military offensive on Wednesday, issuing what it described as a “last warning” for hostages to be returned and Hamas to be removed from power. Heavy airstrikes since Tuesday have resulted in at least 504 deaths, including over 190 children, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. Rescuers reported at least 10 more fatalities in a pre-dawn bombing near Khan Yunis on Thursday.
Lazzarini condemned the suffering endured by civilians, describing it as an “endless unleashing of the most inhumane ordeals.” He also criticized Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid, which has been in place since early March, and the mass displacement of Palestinians. “Evacuation orders forcing people to flee were issued, impacting tens of thousands,” he said, adding that many civilians had already been displaced multiple times since the war began nearly 1.5 years ago.
The latest escalation shattered a fragile truce that had been in place since mid-January. Lazzarini called for an immediate renewal of the ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid access.
The initial ceasefire, which largely halted fighting for over 15 months, expired earlier this month due to a deadlock in negotiations. Israel rejected further talks on a second phase of the truce, instead demanding the return of all hostages under an extended first stage, a proposal Hamas dismissed as an attempt to renegotiate the original deal.
