Geneva, Switzerland - November 18, 2024 There is no plan B for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) because there is no other agency to provide humanitarian aid likewise to refugees in Gaza, said Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UNRWA, at a press conference in Geneva on Monday. Lazzarini made the statement at the UN press conference on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT). He said the agency is irreplaceable, because it is the only UN agency to provide humanitarian aid to refugees in Gaza and it was established based on a mandate of the UN General Assembly resolution. Lazzarini warned that the Israeli ban on the UNRWA from conducting relevant activities set a dangerous precedent. It runs counter to the UN Charter and violates Israel's obligations under international law. He added that the Israeli makes efforts to defame the UNRWA and threaten its staff with possible arrests and groundless investigations. The Israeli parliament on Oct 28 passed a law prohibiting the UNRWA from operating in the country and banning the Israeli government from cooperating with the agency. The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Nov 4 that Israel had officially notified the UN that it had terminated its agreement with the UNRWA, which was reached in 1967. The ministry said that the UNRWA would be replaced by other international organizations, and "preparations will be made to end the connection with UNRWA and to bolster alternatives to UNRWA." Established in 1949, the UNRWA is responsible for providing humanitarian aid, educational and medical services to the registered Palestinian refugees living in West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Since the outbreak of the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict, the humanitarian aid provided by the UNRWA has played a critical role in keeping residents in Gaza to survive. Shotlist: Geneva, Switzerland - Nov 18, 2024: 1. Press conference in progress; 2. Reporters; 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East: "There is no plan B within the UN family, because there is no other agency geared to provide the same activities and in reality, the UNRWA is the response of the international community to the plight of the Palestinian refugees through the mandate provided by the GA (General Assembly) resolution."; 4. Reporters; 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East: "You have the first impact on our staff regarding the job insecurity but beyond that a real real fear that any of them could be arrested, investigated, convicted for belonging or having worked with an organization, which in this context is considered as being a terrorist organization."; Central Gaza Strip - Oct 30, 2024 6. UN flag; FILE: Gaza Strip - Feb 16, 2024 7. Various of damaged UNRWA headquarters. [Restriction - For news purpose only/No archive/Not for other production use, No access Chinese mainland]