UNRWA Commissioner: Gaza’s hunger crisis could return if Israel’s restrictions continue

 Philippe Lazzarini, the U.N. agency’s commissioner-general, told Israel cut off the entry of food, medicine and fuel aid this month, in a move it said was aimed at pressuring the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas into ceasefire talks. Israel said on Sunday it had cut off electricity, which aid groups say will deprive Gazans of clean water. “I think the longer (aid is blocked), the more we see the impact on the population,” Lazzarini said. Obviously, the danger… is to return to the worsening of hunger in the Gaza Strip as we saw months ago.”

“Whatever the intention, it is clear that this is the use of humanitarian aid in Gaza as a weapon… We saw the situation deteriorate very, very quickly.”