Israel’s forced displacement treats Gaza’s population like human ‘pinballs’: UN
The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said that Gaza’s more than 2 million people are being “treated like pinballs” who have been continuously forced to “flee in search of safety that doesn’t exist”.
In a post on social media, UNRWA said it was “at a loss of words to do any justice to the suffering” the population of Gaza is being forced to endure.
“With nearly 20 months of war, people are exhausted, disoriented, grieving, and constantly in fear,” the agency said.
“This hardship and uncertainty must end,” it said.
Families grieve over the bodies of their loved ones who were killed in Israeli attacks on northern Gaza, at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Monday
Renewed Israeli offensive displaced 180,000 in Gaza: IOM
In just 10 days through to May 25, Israeli attacks on displacement camps in Gaza have forced more than 180,000 people to relocate, according to the Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster of the UN’s International Organization for Migration.
“The latest wave of displacement comes as direct attacks on sites have become common, including deadly airstrike on tents in the al-Mawasi area and a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City,” CCCM Cluster said in a statement.
“The Global CCCM Cluster unequivocally condemns attacks on displacement sites in the strongest terms. These sites serve to protect displaced civilians, in line with the enduring obligation under international humanitarian law to ensure the safety and dignity of civilian populations in all circumstances.”
Since March 18, when Israel renewed its war, more than 260 sites hosting some 125,000 individuals have been affected by forced evacuation orders, it said.
“The Global CCCM Cluster calls for an immediate end to attacks on displacement sites, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access, and the protection of civilians irrespective of their location,” the organisation stated.
Tents are set up as temporary shelters for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City
Israel yet to back up its accusations against UNRWA: Lazzarini
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini says Israel has “continuously made unsubstantiated claims” against the UN agency, while refusing to provide evidence to back up its accusations.
“To date, UNRWA has not received any response, nor has the Government of Israel shared any sufficient evidence to back up these very serious claims,” he said on X.
The Israeli government had accused UNRWA staff of involvement in Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, and banned the agency from operating in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.
Lazzarini said on X that the claims had put the lives of its staff at risk and harmed the agency’s reputation. “The minimum requirements are sufficient evidence and due process,” he said. “The absence of both more than one year later raises the possibility that the accusations were unfounded.”
Over the past 20 months, the Government of Israel has continuously made unsubstantiated claims against @UNRWA and its neutrality.
These claims have put the lives of UNRWA staff at serious risk and harmed the reputation of the Agency.
Here are extracts from a letter I recently… pic.twitter.com/zUy71JTDAi
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) May 27, 2025
