UNRWA director: Gaza siege is illegal

Robert Turner, Director for UNRWA Operations in Gaza, considered the Gaza blockade as illegal and representing a collective punishment against 1.5 million Palestinians living in harsh conditions.

Turner demanded the international community to work on lifting the blockade as soon as possible, and called for supporting the UNRWA to develop its services in the various fields.

He said during a news conference at the agency's headquarters in occupied al-Quds ('Jerusalem') on Tuesday: "The UNRWA has defined today its vision to face the problems encountered in the Gaza Strip."

He added that the agency will undertake a study exploring ways in which it can exploit renewable energy in Gaza through a variety of interventions, such as the installation of solar panels on its facilities.