Israel’s new aid delivery scheme in Gaza could facilitate a war crime, the chief of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said in an interview with the Financial Times.

Philippe Lazzarini ruled out the UN’s participation in the initiative that would potentially see Palestinians having to travel across the Gaza Strip to receive aid. 

The Unrwa chief said the plan weaponises and utilises humanitarian assistance for military and political purposes.

“It’s a tool which basically seems to tell us who can receive assistance and who will be sacrificed,” Lazzarini told the FT.

He added that the scheme would facilitate the forced displacement of people, which “may constitute a war crime.”