UNRWA details harrowing abuse of Gaza aid workers in Israeli detention

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Apr 2025 14:12
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UNRWA reveals alarming testimonies from Gaza staff who faced abuse and coercion during Israeli detention, intensifying global concerns over humanitarian violations amid the ongoing Gaza genocide.

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Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestinian Refugees Philippe Lazzarini speaks during a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon, May 27, 2024. (AP)

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has accused the Israeli military of abusing over 50 of its staff members detained during the war on Gaza.

According to UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, the detained individuals, including teachers, doctors, and social workers, were subjected to harsh treatment while in Israeli custody. Lazzarini stated on X that the staff reported being beaten, humiliated, and even used as human shields.

"Since the start of the war in October 2023, over 50 UNRWA staff among them teachers, doctors, social workers, have been detained and abused," Lazzarini wrote. "They have been treated in the most shocking and inhumane way."

Testimonies reveal torture, forced confessions

Sharing testimony from one of the released workers, Lazzarini highlighted the severity of the mistreatment.

"I wished for death to end this nightmare I was living through," the staff member reportedly said. According to the accounts collected by UNRWA, detainees faced sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats against themselves and their families, dog attacks, and forced confessions under duress.

“I wished for death to end the nightmare I was living through”.

Received this awful testimony from a colleague who was rounded up in #Gaza tortured while in Israeli detention and finally released.

For @UNRWA staff humanitarian duty is met with brutality.
Since the start of…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) April 29, 2025

Lazzarini described the testimonies as "harrowing and outrageous," adding to concerns about the treatment of Palestinian detainees during the ongoing Israeli war.

The reported abuse of humanitarian workers further complicates the already dire situation in Gaza, where aid agencies have been struggling to deliver assistance amid ongoing Israeli bombardments and blockades.

International reactions and ICJ proceedings

The broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza is under increased international scrutiny. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently hearing arguments from dozens of nations and organizations regarding "Israel’s" humanitarian obligations to Palestinians.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began a week-long series of hearings on Monday to examine "Israel's" humanitarian obligations toward Palestinians, as the Gaza Strip endures over 50 days under a total blockade that has halted the entry of vital aid.

The ICJ hearings on Gaza started with a submission from Palestinian representatives, followed by arguments from 38 countries, including the United States, China, France, Russia, and Saudi Arabia.

The League of Arab States, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union are also expected to present their positions before the 15-judge panel.

These proceedings stem from a December resolution by the UN General Assembly, led by Norway and passed with broad support, calling on the court to urgently issue an advisory opinion on "Israel's" legal responsibilities under international law.

The United Nations has asked the court to clarify "Israel's" obligations to facilitate the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, in coordination with UN agencies, international organizations, and third-party states. This comes as the Gaza humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with growing concerns over famine risk due to the blockade.

It is worth noting that "Israel" maintains strict control over all international aid entering the Gaza Strip, home to 2.4 million Palestinians. Aid deliveries were fully halted on March 2, just before the ceasefire collapsed, ending a temporary reduction in hostilities after 15 months of conflict.

The ongoing Israeli aid blockade has pushed Gaza to the brink of catastrophe, with supplies rapidly depleting and Palestinian civilians facing severe restrictions on access to essential resources.