UNRWA accuses Israel of abuse as Gaza humanitarian crisis worsens

[MIDDLE EAST] The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has accused Israel of mistreating dozens of its employees in military custody, including allegations that some were used as human shields.

Philippe Lazzarini, the agency’s commissioner-general, stated that more than 50 UNRWA staff members—among them teachers, healthcare workers, and social service providers—have been detained and abused by Israeli forces since the start of the 18-month conflict in Gaza.

These claims add to mounting concerns over Israel’s detention practices in Gaza, where rights organizations report thousands of Palestinians—including women, children, and medical workers—have been held without charges or trial. Groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have documented allegations of torture, forced disappearances, and other mistreatment, though Israeli authorities deny any systematic abuse.

“They have been treated in the most shocking and inhumane way,” Lazzarini said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “They reported being beaten and used as human shields.” UNRWA alleges that detainees endured sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats against themselves and their families, attacks by dogs, and were coerced into making confessions.

UN officials said the alleged abuses occurred both within Gaza and in detention facilities across Israel. The UN human rights office has reported similar claims in recent months, citing released detainees who described being stripped, blindfolded, held in stress positions, and in some instances subjected to electric shocks or sexual violence. Independent verification remains difficult due to restricted access to the facilities.

While the Israeli military has not responded directly to Lazzarini’s latest accusations, it has consistently denied allegations of widespread abuse. It has, however, launched investigations into some cases of misconduct by its personnel, including the use of detainees as human shields, resulting in charges against certain individuals.

A military spokesperson said in a statement that Israel adheres to both domestic and international law and ensures detainees' rights are protected. “Any abuse of detainees, whether during their detention or interrogation, violates the law and IDF directives and is strictly prohibited,” the statement read.

Legal experts acknowledge that while some prosecutions have occurred, convictions are rare and penalties often lenient. Critics argue there is a systemic lack of accountability, especially concerning Palestinian detainees. The military insists it investigates all credible allegations, though rights groups say structural obstacles hinder victims from seeking justice.

On Tuesday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) confirmed the release of a medic detained after a deadly Israeli attack on ambulances in southern Gaza on 23 March. That incident killed eight PRCS personnel, six Gaza civil defense workers, and one UNRWA staff member, according to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The attack sparked widespread international condemnation and concern from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk over potential war crimes. Tensions between Israel and UNRWA have worsened since the war’s outbreak, which began in October 2023 following a surprise Hamas attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and saw 250 people taken hostage.

Earlier this year, Israel banned all cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, claiming the agency had been infiltrated by Hamas—an assertion UNRWA strongly denies.

Employing over 13,000 people in Gaza, UNRWA has long provided essential services such as education, healthcare, and food aid. However, funding cuts from major donors, including the United States and the United Kingdom, following Israel’s accusations, have deepened the humanitarian crisis in the enclave. Independent UN-commissioned audits found no evidence of widespread links between staff and militant groups, though Israel continues to assert that the agency is compromised.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN’s top legal body, is currently hearing submissions from numerous states and organizations regarding Israel’s legal obligations to Palestinians, including whether its ban on UNRWA’s operations is lawful.

Israel is not participating in the proceedings, dismissing them as biased and politically motivated. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the hearings as an attempt “to politicize and abuse the legal process to persecute Israel,” adding, “It is not Israel that should be on trial—it is the UN and UNRWA.”

The ICJ hearings come amid intensified Israeli bombardment in Gaza. Local health authorities reported that at least 27 Palestinians were killed in the past 36 hours. The Israeli military said it had targeted and killed three senior militant commanders and emphasized that all operations comply with international humanitarian law, including efforts to minimize civilian harm.

Since Israel resumed military operations on 18 March following a fragile ceasefire, Gaza’s health ministry says at least 2,151 people, including 732 children, have been killed.

The Israeli blockade of Gaza—imposed nearly two months ago—has cut off all food, fuel, and medical supplies. Israel says the blockade aims to pressure Hamas into releasing remaining hostages and accuses the group of diverting humanitarian aid.

Human rights organizations have condemned the blockade as a “starvation tactic” that endangers civilians and could constitute a war crime. Aid groups report that most Gazans are surviving on one meal a day or less, with basic food stocks exhausted and malnutrition on the rise.

The healthcare system is nearing collapse, with hospitals running out of essential supplies like antibiotics, blood products, and anesthesia. The World Health Organization warns that deaths from preventable causes—such as infections and untreated chronic illnesses—now outnumber those from direct violence. Over 1,000 patients, including children and cancer sufferers, urgently require evacuation, though only a few have been allowed to leave.

Hamas continues to hold 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive. Most others have been released through ceasefire agreements and prisoner exchanges. On Tuesday, families of those believed dead urged the return of their loved ones’ remains, fearing continued fighting and deteriorating conditions could destroy or obscure bodies.

“My father’s body cannot simply disappear,” said Bar Godard, whose parents were killed in the Hamas-led attack and whose father’s remains are believed to be in Gaza.

Efforts to broker a new ceasefire appear to have stalled amid conflicting reports about ongoing negotiations. Analysts say little progress is expected soon, though former U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE may bring renewed pressure on Israel to reach a deal.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 52,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed since Israel launched its military campaign. The offensive has devastated large parts of the enclave and displaced an estimated 80% of the population, with many forced to flee multiple times.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the operation until Hamas is dismantled or disarmed and all hostages are returned.