UN Aid Agency in Gaza – Germany, Canada, the U.K., and six other Western nations have joined with the U.S. in pausing funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency after Israel claims that twelve UNRWA staff members were involved with the October. seven Hamas terror attack.
The bigger overall picture UNRWA is firing the employees accused of misconduct and has launched an investigation. The director of UNRWA declared this past Saturday “lifesaving assistance is about to end” because of the decision of nine countries to stop funding.
“UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over 2 million people depending on it for their sheer survival,” UNRWA director Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement.
“Many are hungry as the clock is ticking towards a looming famine. The Agency runs shelters for over 1 million people and provides food and primary healthcare even at the height of the hostilities,” the official added.
The news is on the move A senior Israeli official told it was the Shin Bet and Israeli military intelligence provided evidence that pointed towards the active involvement of UNRWA personnel as well as the use of the vehicle and its facilities in the October. 7. Hamas attack.
“This was strong and corroborated intelligence,” the official claimed. “A lot of the intelligence is a result of interrogations of militants who were arrested during the Oct. 7 attack.”
The U.S. on Friday became the first nation to stop its support to UNRWA due to the allegations. This was the first action taken by the Biden administration to take against UNRWA after renewing U.S. funding to the agency following the Trump administration cut it completely off.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that the U.S. is “extremely troubled by the allegations” and the administration has “temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.”
Germany is UNRWA‘s second largest donor and second largest donor, joined with the U.S. in pausing funding on Saturday. It is believed that the U.K., Finland, Australia, Canada, Italy and the Netherlands and Switzerland were also temporarily halted from funding.
State of play Lazzarini stated on Friday that the contract of the employees who were charged and initiated an investigation in order to “establish the truth without delay.”
“Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution,” Lazzarini stated.
“UNRWA reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the abhorrent attacks” on October. 7 “calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages and their safe return to their families,” he said.
The UN will conduct an “urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA,” Stephane Dujarric who is the spokesperson of Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said on Friday.
Guterres Guterres “horrified” by the allegations, Dujarric added.
He also requested Lazzarini to “investigate this matter swiftly and to ensure that any UNRWA employee shown to have participated or abetted what transpired on 7 October, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution,” said the spokesperson.
The message they’re giving: Miller stated that Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke to Guterres on Thursday and stressed “the necessity of a thorough and swift investigation of this matter.”
Miller applauded the announcement by the United Nations of a thorough and independent review of UNRWA Miller, who said that the review “must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks of Oct. 7.”
“UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support,” Miller added.
Suggested Read : When Did Islam Start?
“Their work has saved lives, and it is important that UNRWA address these allegations and take any appropriate corrective measures, including reviewing its existing policies and procedures.”
Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant, on Friday, expressed gratitude to for the Biden administration “taking an important step in holding UNRWA accountable.”
“Terrorism under the guise of humanitarian work is a disgrace to the UN and the principles it claims to represent,”
