Western states halt funding of UN Palestinian refugee agency — RT World News
Several Western countries have suspended funding for the United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency in response to Israeli allegations that a number of its employees participated in the bloody attack carried out by Hamas on October 7.
The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland and Australia stopped sending money to UNRWA as of Saturday, according to Reuters. These decisions came after the agency expelled an unspecified number of its employees and opened an investigation into their alleged relations with Palestinian militants.
“The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of a number of UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on 7 October.” The agency's commissioner general, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement on Friday. “Any UNRWA employee involved in terrorist acts will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.”
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres “aghast” His office said the charges were against United Nations employees.
The funding cut is expected to impact hundreds of millions of dollars in much-needed aid to the agency, which provides shelter and food to displaced Palestinians – a category that currently includes more than 85% of the Gaza Strip's population.
Lazzarini condemned governments that chose to halt funding during the investigation, warning that such actions threaten the agency's humanitarian work in the region. “The Palestinians in Gaza did not need this additional collective punishment. “This stains us all.” Written by X (formerly Twitter).
Israel has long accused the United Nations and its member organizations of sympathizing with Hamas. In October, the Jewish state demanded Guterres' resignation, accusing him of doing so “Justifying terrorism” Israeli officials also say Palestinian militants are using hospitals and other civilian facilities as cover for their rocket attacks against Israel.
Israel's allegations against UNRWA came less than a week after the International Court of Justice ordered the country to take emergency measures to prevent this “Genocide” in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the ruling, describing it as… “Outrageous.”
On October 7, Hamas carried out a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostage. Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas and launching a military operation in the Gaza Strip. More than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed since then, according to Hamas-run authorities in Gaza.
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