Eight countries have paused future funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East amid an investigation into allegations some workers participated in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The agency, known as the UNRWA, is entrusted with moving much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been under intense bombardment by the Israel Defense Forces in its mission to annihilate Hamas militants after the October strike.
The countries pausing funding include the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland and the Netherlands.
The UNRWA said Friday that Israeli authorities provided information that several of its employees were involved in the attacks. The allegations were made against 12 employees, according to the U.S. State Department.
The UNRWA has said that it was terminating the contracts of the workers and that the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services would conduct an investigation into the allegation.
More details about the workers, including how they are accused of participating in the Oct. 7 attacks, was not available.
Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, has accused the UNRWA of serving as the “civilian arm of Hamas in Gaza,” a charge the humanitarian aid agency has vehemently denied.
Israel has long accused the UNRWA of colluding with Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza and launched the attacks on Oct. 7.
On Saturday, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said the funding pause from countries that account for much of its budget will serve to exacerbate the region’s humanitarian crisis, fueled by the cutting off of fuel and supplies.
“It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation,” he said in a statement.
He urged the countries to reconsider.
“UNRWA is…
Read the full article here