The United Nations has announced that Israel has not yet provided any evidence to support its allegations against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Furthermore, Washington has stated that the suspension of its funding to the agency is temporary. However, UN agencies have warned of disastrous consequences if the agency’s funding is halted for the residents of the Gaza Strip.
Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, announced in a press conference in New York on Tuesday that Israel has conveyed its allegations regarding the involvement of 12 UNRWA employees in the attack launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on October 7th. Israel labeled the attack as the “Great Aqsa Tempest.” Dujarric added that Israel has not provided a written file regarding these allegations, indicating that the dismissal of the employees in question and the agency’s investigation are being conducted in light of Israeli accusations.
According to the UN spokesperson, UNRWA previously shared its staff list with the host country and also with Israel, without the latter expressing any concerns about it. In recent days, the Israeli government has been conducting a campaign against UNRWA and has alleged that Hamas is using the agency’s infrastructure to launch attacks.
Although the investigations into the Israeli allegations are still in their early stages, the United States, along with other Western countries and Japan, have announced the suspension of their aid to UNRWA. Conversely, Spain, Ireland, and Norway have stated that they will not cut their assistance.
The UN agency has announced measures including the dismissal of the employees in question and the opening of an investigation into the Israeli allegations, warning that cutting off its funding will affect Palestinian civilians. In Gaza, the collective blockade has escalated to a crime against humanity, with severe shortages of water, sanitary facilities, and scarce food. Countries that suspend funding to UNRWA align with the Israeli campaign, as reported by Fatima Al-Turki.
Meanwhile, the chairs of the Joint Committee of UN Agencies stressed that halting the funding for UNRWA will have disastrous repercussions for the people of Gaza, leading to the collapse of the humanitarian system in the region. The statement further emphasized that no other entity has the capacity to provide the necessary assistance to over two million people in Gaza, underscoring the irreplaceable role of UNRWA.
Sigrid Kaag, the UN Coordinator of Humanitarian Aid in Gaza, emphasized that no organization can replace UNRWA with a sense of urgency. UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, held a closed meeting with donor states to update them on the steps taken by the United Nations regarding the Israeli allegations against a number of agency employees. Rami Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the United Nations, stated that Guterres called on member states suspending their funding to reconsider their decision. He also urged other countries, including those from the region, to increase their contributions to fund the agency, emphasizing their role in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Vincent Marti, the UN Special Rapporteur on Poverty and Human Rights, expressed hope for a reversal in the decisions of countries that have suspended their support for the UN agency, emphasizing the need for the support that the agency provides to the people of Gaza.
Additionally, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, stated that the suspension of American funding to UNRWA is temporary, affirming the agency’s essential role in providing life-saving aid in Gaza. She welcomed the UN’s investigation into the allegations regarding the involvement of its employees in the October 7th attacks.
Furthermore, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, urged the UN to investigate the allegations against the UN agency, emphasizing that the agency’s work in Gaza is indispensable and must continue.
Israeli government spokesperson Eliron Levy accused the UN agency of being a “front” for Hamas, citing three main penetrations: the widespread employment of terrorists, permission for Hamas to use its infrastructure for military activities, and reliance on Hamas in distributing aid in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid delivered a message to a U.S. congressional subcommittee reiterating the government’s claims about the agency’s support for terrorism by allowing the use of its facilities by Hamas and the involvement of its employees in attacks against Israel. He called for an alternative to UNRWA, stating that it is a part of the problem and cannot be part of the solution.
The International Amnesty Organization called on the countries that have decided to suspend their funding to the UN agency to reconsider their perceived unjust decision.
Lastly, the UN Security Council expressed its concern about the rapidly deteriorating and severe humanitarian situation in Gaza, highlighting the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in the region.
The article details the ongoing situation regarding Israel’s allegations against UNRWA, the potential repercussions of funding suspension, and the responses from various stakeholders, shedding light on the critical humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
