UNRWA slams Israeli ban on foreign media access to Gaza
ANKARA: Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), on Saturday condemned Israel's ongoing ban on international journalists entering Gaza, calling it an unprecedented act in modern conflict.
'This is unprecedented in any other conflict in modern history,' Lazzarini said in a statement, Anadolu Ajansı reported.
'It is a ban on the truth. It is a ban on reporting the facts. It is the perfect recipe to fuel misinformation, deepening polarisation and dehumanisation.'
He stressed the importance of allowing independent reporting and supporting local journalists: 'International journalists must independently report from Gaza and support their Palestinian colleagues who continue to do a heroic job at a heavy price.'
'Nearly 200 of them have been reported killed since the war began,' said Lazzarini, stressing that 'the ban on international media must be lifted.'
Meanwhile, UNRWA on Saturday reiterated its call for cooperation from the Israeli government over allegations made against the agency, stating that no credible evidence has been provided despite repeated requests.
'UNRWA has repeatedly requested cooperation and evidence from Israel regarding the serious allegations made against the agency,' the agency said in an official statement.
'After 20 months, UNRWA has not received any response, nor has the Government of Israel shared any sufficient evidence.'
The agency emphasised its continued commitment to its humanitarian mandate, stating: 'UNRWA remains committed to its mandate and is ready to deliver humanitarian assistance at scale in Gaza, together with other UN agencies.'
Israel, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a genocidal offensive in Gaza since October 2023, killing nearly 54,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Aid agencies have warned about the risk of famine among the enclave's more than 2 million inhabitants.
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