The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, yesterday appealed to international donors to continue funding the Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), stressing that there is absolutely no other alternative, despite the accusations and criticisms of Israel.

During a press conference, Mr. Guterres underlined that the Palestinians would lose a necessary “lifeline” and “the last ray of hope” without UNRWA.

“Let me be clear: there is no alternative to UNRWA,” he insisted.

“Where we thought the situation couldn’t get any worse in Gaza, one way or another, horrifically, civilians are being pushed deeper and deeper into hell,” the UN chief added.

UNRWA’s commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini, for his part sounded the alarm, stressing the fact that his agency will not be able to continue its mission beyond August if it does not receive additional funding.

The UN’s urgent appeal to collect an amount of 1.2 billion dollars to offer aid to the Palestinians by the end of the year, as well as another initiative by countries in the region, have so far only allowed to secure only 20% of the necessary of funds, Mr. Lazzarini explained.

The Israeli government, which has historically been critical of UNRWA, alleged in January that some 12 UNRWA employees took part in the October 7 attack by Hamas.

The Israeli state has exponentially increased pressure on the agency, which fired its accused employees and promised an internal investigation.

According to Antonio Guterres, 195 UNRWA workers have been killed since the outbreak of the war.

This is the heaviest casualty toll in the ranks of the United Nations within the confines of armed conflict since the establishment of the international organization.

The US Congress has banned any new funding to the agency; Joe Biden’s administration has chosen to redirect funds intended for Palestinian civilians to other organizations, even though it recognizes that UNRWA is the only agency with broad capabilities to distribute aid.

The war, triggered by an Oct. 7 Hamas raid on southern Israel that left 1,195 dead on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, has entered its tenth month, with at least 38,345 dead on the Palestinian side, according to the health ministry in the Strip. Gaza, where the Palestinian Islamist movement rules.