UNRWA chief accuses Israel of blocking donations through Google ads

The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has leveled serious accusations against the Israeli government, claiming that it is using Google ads to obstruct donations to the agency.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made the allegation in a post on social media platform X, stating that Israel’s efforts to undermine the agency’s credibility are not only damaging its reputation but also endangering the lives of its staff.

“These deliberate efforts to spread misinformation should stop + be investigated,” Lazzarini wrote on Saturday, emphasizing the need for more stringent regulations on companies, including social media platforms, to address the spread of disinformation and hate speech. He further noted, “The spread of misinformation & disinformation continues to be used as a weapon in the war in Gaza.”

Israel has long campaigned against UNRWA, the primary organization providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories and supporting Palestinian refugees in other countries since 1949. The Israeli government has accused the agency of having ties to “terrorists” and has lobbied for its closure.

The tensions escalated last month when a UN spokesperson condemned an Israeli government official for describing Lazzarini as a “terrorist sympathizer.” In a videotaped speech, David Mencer accused UNRWA of being deeply infiltrated by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both of which are designated as terrorist organizations by Israel and other countries.

The United Nations swiftly responded to Mencer’s comments, calling them “reprehensible” and warning that such rhetoric poses a serious risk to Lazzarini’s safety.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and UNRWA highlights the deepening divide over the agency’s role and the broader issue of humanitarian aid in the region.