People of Palestine 'would be forever grateful' for Ireland's support, UN chief says
Tánaiste Micheál Martin with Unrwa commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini as he announced €20m in support for the UN Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa). Picture: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie
As the commissioner general for Unrwa Phillipe Lazzarini stood on the podium in Dublin listening to Tánaiste Micheál Martin pledge €20m in Irish support to the agency, reports emerged from Gaza of a raid on Nasser Hospital, one of the last functioning medical facilities on the Strip.
It had been reported by Gazan officials that 8,000 displaced people were sheltering at the hospital, among them hundreds of patients and medical workers.
With no independent press able to report from the besieged territory, news filtered out through social media accounts of fresh terror.
Another grim chapter from a hellish week in Gaza.
The Swiss diplomat Lazzarini is very aware that every hour he spends canvassing governments for support, a lifetime of tragedy is unfolding in places like Rafah and Khan Younis.
It makes his job all the more important, and the support pledged by Ireland, all the more precious.
“Make no mistake,” Lazzarini said, “€20m from your government is a huge sum of money. Even more than that, it is timely. The more we have countries like Ireland, the more we expect others to follow in a domino effect.”
A rebuke for the sceptics who might suggest a small country like Ireland pledging such a sum is little more than performative diplomacy?
“I couldn’t disagree more," Mr Lazzarini told the .
March is a hugely significant month for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa).
An annual EU contribution of about €82m, due next month, had been counted on to help the agency breathe.
Last month's allegations by Israel that 12 Unrwa staff members were involved in the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel saw 16 donor countries press an immediate pause on funding for the relief agency.
Among them were major benefactors such as the US, the UK, Germany, and Italy.
Mr Lazzarini, an experienced humanitarian and diplomat, was surprised by the swiftness of their actions, if not their collective concern over the allegations.
“I understand the domestic reality of those countries that paused, but was surprised by the number that immediately suspended funds, and the speed with which they did it.
"What I say to these countries is this: tell us what it takes for you to reverse your decision, because that decision — if maintained — can be fatal to Unrwa — and, beyond Unrwa will have a lasting impact on Palestinian refugees' lives after this crisis.
"I believe it could negatively impact any transitional phase after if there is a successful political trajectory."
Earlier in the day, Tánaiste Micheál Martin had said there was “no replacement” for Unrwa's work in Gaza and — in a direct attack on Israel’s campaign of disinformation against the agency — insisted those who say otherwise are “not telling the truth".
Regarding its handling of Israel's accusation against the agency, the commissioner general had this to say: “We took swift and assertive action regarding the allegations. We have terminated contracts, called for an independent investigation, and also called for Israel to cooperate, which it has not.
“At the same time, the UN secretary-general has announced the appointment of an independent review group, led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna to completely reassess our risk management processes. Having taken all these measures, once these allegations have been shared with us, we have shown how seriously we are taking these allegations.”
Outside of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Unrwa has jurisdiction over 3.5 million Palestinians in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
“Unrwa has been in a state of existential crisis for a decade. It’s not just in Gaza. This latest attack on Unrwa has caused an awful lot of despair in the wider Palestinian community. It has threatened our lifeline.
"Our capacity to provide the vital services people depend on for so many basic needs — schooling, primary health care, employment — has been eroded.
While Unrwa's operations continue across the region, Mr Lazzarini identifies the end of March as a tipping point for its operations everywhere.
“It is absolutely essential that pledges continue to come in. The suspension of funds has been a hugely unwelcome distraction, and has deflected from our humanitarian efforts on the ground in Gaza.”
More than 150 Unrwa employees have been killed since the Israeli bombardment began on October 7.
Would the international reaction to these deaths be different if the fatalities were international workers and not Gazan?
“It is impossible to say. Every life is equal," said Mr Lazzarine. "We both know this. Our staff is part of the social fabric and ecosystem of Gaza.
"They have been killed in their homes, with their families. This is extremely traumatic. It has not, however, prevented Unrwa from delivering its most critical humanitarian services to the rest of the population.
“If any of our staff — national, international — were killed “in action” [while doing their job], it would cause us to completely review the way we operate. The other day, we had a convoy deployed to the north that was targeted by a strike… this has caused us to suspend any other crossing to the north because the security environment does not allow us to continue to operate as we would like, without exposing our staff to an unacceptable risk.”
As the commissioner general departed Dublin for the Middle East, he was so uncertain of many things.
Not of Ireland's commitment to the agency he represents, however.
For that, the people of Palestine he said “would be forever grateful. Ireland is leading in both word and action."
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