UNRWA Director Lazzarini raises accusations of torture against Israel
Published: Sunday, Mar 24th 2024, 05:41
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The Swiss UNRWA Director Philippe Lazzarini accuses Israel of torturing arrested UNRWA employees: "We have first-hand testimonies accusing Israel of systematic mistreatment and torture."
Lazzarini said in an interview with "SonntagsBlick" that he knew from people who had been released that they had been forced to give false testimony. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had asked Israel for clarification.
In the interview, Lazzarini also criticized the dire financial situation of his organization. "It is terrible that UNRWA is always on the verge of financial collapse," he said. Various states have suspended their payments to the UN organization, including the USA and Switzerland. The background to this were accusations by Israel that individual UNRWA employees were involved in the massacre by the Islamist Hamas on October 7.
According to Lazzarini, the dissolution of UNRWA demanded by Israel is not an option. "There is no other United Nations organization that could do what we do. There is no other UN organization that offers children public education." The World Food Program is also no alternative. "They only have 30 to 40 employees in Gaza. We not only need emergency aid, but also plans for the next few years. If you continue to cut development aid now, you are sowing the seeds for future hatred and resentment," said the UNRWA chief.
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