Gaza could face fate similar to that of native Americans, Lazzarini warns

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Lazzarini said: “In Gaza, we know it is already too late, and if we do not act, the fate of Gaza’s population could be similar to that of Native Americans.”

He called for urgent and effective international action to protect civilians and ensure the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, warning that continued inaction threatens to destroy what remains of the basic necessities of life in Gaza.

Lazzarini described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as one of the worst in modern history, citing widespread destruction, severe shortages of essential supplies, and the harsh living conditions facing residents.

His warning comes as humanitarian organizations are increasingly unable to meet the needs of Palestinians.

The World Food Program (WFP) announced that it was reducing the number of people receiving assistance in Gaza from 1.6 million to 1.1 million this month because of funding shortages, leaving approximately half a million Palestinians without the support they had previously received.

On October 16, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that recent improvements in efforts to combat malnutrition remained fragile, noting that approximately 800,000 children were still displaced and living in unsafe shelters.

According to available data, one in eight children under the age of five suffers from chronic malnutrition, while only one-third of children under two receive the minimum dietary diversity needed for healthy development.

On the ground, a year since the ceasefire agreement has not brought an end to Palestinian deaths.

At least five Palestinians were killed on Tuesday by Israeli shelling and gunfire, including a married couple whose apartment in Gaza City was targeted and a 17-year-old boy killed near Khan Yunis.

The number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire agreement took effect has exceeded 1,500.

Meanwhile, progress toward reconstruction remains blocked by an Israeli decision, leaving Gaza’s population facing the combined threats of continued bombardment, shrinking humanitarian assistance, and ongoing displacement.