The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has declared Gaza the world’s most perilous environment for journalists and humanitarian personnel. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, issued this grave assessment on Sunday while demanding Israel lift its prohibition on independent international media access to the besieged territory.
Lazzarini revealed that over 230 media professionals have lost their lives since the onset of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, characterizing Palestinian reporters as indispensable chroniclers of conflict realities. ‘These journalists have demonstrated extraordinary courage under unimaginable circumstances,’ Lazzarini stated in a social media post, noting they ‘paid the ultimate price’ for their documentation efforts.
This condemnation follows Israel’s Supreme Court rejection of a petition by the Foreign Press Association in early January seeking independent journalist access to Gaza. The court upheld the ban citing security concerns, maintaining restrictions that have prevented foreign journalists from entering the devastated territory since October 2023, except for limited, military-escorted visits.
The UN official emphasized that journalist access constitutes ‘a fundamental pillar of media freedom,’ asserting that ‘this prolonged prohibition on international correspondents has persisted far too long.’ According to Reporters Without Borders, Israeli forces killed at least 29 Palestinian journalists in Gaza during a one-year period through December 2025.
Lazzarini further warned that media isolation compounds humanitarian crises, noting Gaza has simultaneously become the most dangerous location for aid workers. ‘This media blackout fosters disinformation campaigns and polarized narratives,’ he contended, suggesting it aims to ‘undermine first-hand data and eyewitness accounts, including testimony from international humanitarian organizations.’
UNRWA’s latest reports indicate 382 personnel associated with its humanitarian operations have been killed since the war’s inception, including 309 staff members. The situation worsened in 2024 when Israel’s parliament passed legislation banning UNRWA from operating in Israel and occupied Palestinian territories, potentially severing essential services for millions of Palestinian refugees. Israeli forces subsequently demolished UNRWA’s headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem.
The commissioner cautioned that ‘today’s targeting of UNRWA establishes a concerning precedent for tomorrow’s treatment of any international organization or diplomatic mission, whether in Palestinian territories or globally.’
In a related development, Israel announced in December 2025 a ban on 37 humanitarian NGOs operating in Palestine for alleged failure to meet registration requirements. Under mounting pressure, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has agreed to provide Israel with complete staff lists to resume operations in Gaza and the West Bank—a decision raising safety concerns after at least 15 Palestinian MSF staff members were killed by Israeli forces since October 2023.