Michael Martin, Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated that Israel has launched a false and misleading campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). He criticized the United States and urged them to reconsider their decision to suspend support for UNRWA.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, Martin addressed a deliberate attack targeting the agency. He emphasized that without UNRWA, essential services for Palestinians in Gaza would be compromised.
“Any attack on UNRWA would undermine the two-state solution,” Martin stated, highlighting that the entity that will manage Gaza post-war cannot fulfill its duties without UNRWA.
Lazzarini welcomed Ireland and other European countries’ commitment to continue financial support for the agency, viewing it as a message to other nations. He reiterated the importance of maintaining essential services in the region, warning that dismantling the agency and suspending its funding would be a betrayal of Palestinians by the international community, with severe negative repercussions.
He cautioned that the absence of new contributions would cause a significant funding shortfall for the agency starting from April.
Lazzarini called on the Israeli government to cooperate with the agency in the accusations against its employees and provide all the facts, accordingly.
Since January 26, 18 countries and the European Union have suspended their funding for UNRWA following Israeli allegations that agency employees were involved in an attack carried out by Palestinian resistance on October 7. UN officials have warned of catastrophic consequences resulting from these nations’ actions against the UN agency, emphasizing the impossibility of finding an alternative to the agency.
