STORY: Jordan slams Israeli attempts to "politically assassinate" UNRWA
SHOOTING TIME: July 9, 2024
DATELINE: July 10, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:08
LOCATION: Amman
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of meeting and press conference
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AYMAN SAFADI, Jordan's Foreign Affairs Minister
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PHILIPPE LAZZARINI, UNRWA Commissioner-General

STORYLINE:

On Tuesday, Jordanian Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi slammed Israel's accusations against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). 

Israel has accused UNRWA of having ties with Hamas.

Speaking at a press conference in Amman with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, Safadi called Israel's claims "an attempt to assassinate the agency politically" and part of an effort to "liquidate the Palestinian cause." 
   
Safadi said that the aid entering the enclave was insufficient for the basic needs of Gaza residents.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): AYMAN SAFADI, Jordan's Foreign Affairs Minister 
"The humanitarian situation is catastrophic, and UNRWA's ability to carry out its duty and serve the people in Gaza is still very limited due to the obstacles imposed by the occupation forces on the agency. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is worsening with the continuation of the aggression. The aid that enters is minimal and does not meet the minimum needs of the Palestinian citizens in Gaza."

The minister noted that the UN's ability to deliver aid has been seriously compromised by Israel's failure to protect UN workers, which is required under international obligations. The aid system has collapsed as a result of the continued conflict.
   
Safadi added that Jordan stands with UNRWA and continues to do everything it can to support the agency's work and reputation.
   
Lazzarini, for his part, thanked the kingdom for its support. The commissioner-general stressed the scale of the devastation and explained that more than half of the agency's facilities in Gaza have been destroyed. This included schools and health centers.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PHILIPPE LAZZARINI, UNRWA Commissioner-General
"It's quite staggering, the kind of figures that we have nowadays. We heard that about 17,000 children are orphaned or unaccompanied. We believe that there are more than 20,000 children who are just missing according to Save the Children. But we know also that the children have paid a heavy price. Too many of them have been killed, too many of them are living in the rubble. But also, too many of them have lost one leg, two legs, and there have been a horrifying statistic when we hear that UNICEF estimates that every day, you have about 10 children losing one or two legs."

Lazzarini said that since the current conflict broke out in Gaza, UNRWA has become and remains a target of the war. The UNRWA official said that the accusations against his agency were "a blatant and raging aggression against its role... and in violation of international humanitarian law."
   
"There is also a political aim to eliminate UNRWA, to strip Palestinians of their right to establish their state, and kill the aspirations of Palestinians in general," Lazzarini added.

Xinhua News Agency correspondent reporting from Amman.
(XHTV)