UNRWA chief appeals to Israel, Egypt over Gaza restrictions

GAZA - The outgoing head of the UN agency UNRWA that aids Palestinian refugees said Israel's Gaza blockade is illegal, and urged Israel and Egypt on Tuesday to lift their border restrictions on the Hamas Islamist-run Gaza Strip.

Filippo Grandi, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Organization (UNRWA), said Israel and Egypt had legitimate security concerns but that the plight of the 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza should also be taken into account. (Reuters)