Head of UN agency for Palestinian refugees crosses into Gaza

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, crossed into Gaza Wednesday, where he met with Palestinian communities and other UNRWA colleagues working in the territory.

He said he was shocked by the scale of humanitarian needs Gaza and called for scaling up assistance delivered to the strip's 2.3 million population.

“I was shocked by the fact that everyone there was asking for food, was asking for water ... I never, ever have seen something similar in Gaza,” he said in comments to journalists.

Lazzarini is the most senior UN official to enter the besieged enclave since the conflict erupted on October 7. (AP)