Cyprus News Agency

Lazzarini said that the humanitarian mission of UNRWA staff is being met with brutality.

He noted that since the outbreak of war in October 2023, more than 50 UNRWA staff members — including teachers, doctors, and social workers — have been detained and abused, adding:

"They have been subjected to the most shocking and inhumane treatment. They reported being beaten and used as human shields. They were subjected to sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats of harm to themselves and their families, and dog attacks. Many were coerced into forced confessions."

Lazzarini emphasized the need for justice and accountability for crimes and violations of international law committed in the Gaza Strip, stating: "Justice for those working on the humanitarian front is not a choice, it is a duty."