Lazzarini said he hoped "there will be lessons learned" from the first phase of the Israeli offensive and that "Israel will strictly abide by international humanitarian law" going forward.
Asked about the US proposal to create "safe areas" for civilians, he responded that this was unworkable, noting that "a high number of people" have been killed in the south of Gaza, despite Israel describing that area as safe and urging people to go there.
Lazzarini accused Israel of not respecting international humanitarian law in Gaza. He noted that 10,000 women and children have been killed since October 7, "which is more than two years of civilians killed in the Ukraine war".
He went on: "This number cannot be collateral [damage] and we expect that the rule of law be more strictly abided by. Here we are talking about the notion of proportionality and distinction." UNRWA's commissioner-general denied any sheltering of Hamas militants by its organisation.