Israeli hostilities on southern Gaza could force 1M refugees towards Egypt: UN
A picture shows destroyed buildings in Gaza City on the northern Gaza strip following weeks of Israeli bombardment, as a four-day ceasefire took effect on November 24, 2023. The truce in the Israel-Hamas war began on November 24 and appeared to be holding, under a deal that will see hostages released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. (Photo by AFP)
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), has warned that the renewed hostilities by Israel on the southern Gaza Strip could force 1 million Palestinian refugees towards the Egyptian border in the coming days.
His comment followed the resumption of Israeli attacks in the war-torn enclave after the end of a week-long humanitarian pause.
UNRWA quoted its Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, as saying in an interview that the fighting could push the people of Gaza further south and beyond the border.
The head of the UN agency told the Guardian that it has 1 million people in its installations, including 100,000 in the north.
Talks to reach a deal for another temporary ceasefire and to secure the freedom of the people kidnapped on October 7 who remain in Gaza failed to yield positive results on Saturday.
Israel said it withdrew its negotiators from the Mossad intelligence service out of talks in Qatar, which has been acting as a mediator, following an “impasse in the negotiations”.
Israel renewed its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip in response to a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.
More than 15,000 people have so far been confirmed killed, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to authorities in Gaza.
The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.
