Situation in Gaza – Statement by UNRWA Commissioner-General – UNRWA press release

Statement by UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen Abu Zayd

I speak to you today from a besieged and war-torn Gaza as head of the lead agency charged by the international community with bringing humanitarian relief to a suffering people. I am horrified at the violence engulfing Gaza, where the death toll of innocent civilians, including children, rises each hour. At the same time, I condemn the rockets, which lead to a senseless loss of civilian lives.   

I ask that the international community intervene to help put an end to this deadly and destructive violence.

And I appeal to the leaders in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to heed the call of the United Nations Secretary-General to exercise maximum restraint and to respect international humanitarian law so that civilians are not endangered.

For the sake of their people, the parties must act now to ensure that peace efforts are not fatally damaged, because of all the 'options' on the table, peace is the only one worth pursuing.

For more information please contact Chris Gunness on 054-240-2659.