The United States has paused funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency over revelations that some of its staff were involved in the Octobr 7th terror attacks on Israel.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said 12 UNRWA employees had been accused of participating.
In response Tlthe United Nations agency which serves Palestinian refugees says it has opened an investigation into some employees Israel alleges were involved in the October 7 attacks, and that it has severed ties with those staff members.
“The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7,” commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA),Philippe Lazzarini, confirmed on Friday.
“To protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay.
But worrying to the UNWRA head is that nine countries have suspended funding to the agency
Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement on Saturday noted that this action threatens
“our ongoing humanitarian work across the region including and especially in the Gaza Strip”.
“It would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an Agency and an entire community it serves because of allegations of criminal acts against some individuals, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region”.
Meanwhile, Germany announced late Saturday they are suspending funding to UNRWA.
The Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also confirmed on Saturday that her country had also taken this decision
“while UNRWA provides vital, life saving work, Brisbane would temporarily pause disbursement of recent funding.”
“We welcome UNRWA’s immediate response, including terminating contracts and launching an investigation,”
Finland, which had a four-year agreement to provide five million euros ($5.4 million) annually to UNRWA, suspended its payments and called for an “an independent and thorough investigation”, in a statement from its foreign ministry
Canada’s International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen also announced on Friday that Ottawa had “temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA while it undertakes a thorough investigation into these allegations
The British government said it was “appalled by the allegations” made by Israel and would be “temporarily pausing any future funding
(C) ControlTV 2024.
