Unrwa in the viewfinder. Israel wants the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees to no longer play a role in Gaza following allegations that staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, its top diplomat said Saturday.
The government wants to “ensure that UNRWA will not be part” of the solution in the Palestinian territory after the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement, Israel Katz said in a statement, hoping to “stop” all of the organization's activities.
Unrwa, long in the crosshairs of Israeli authorities, on Friday parted ways with several employees accused of involvement in the Oct. 7 attack. “Every employee who was involved in terrorist attacks must answer, including through legal proceedings,” said a press release from the agency’s head, Philippe Lazzarini. UNRWA reiterates its “strongest condemnation” of the October 7 attacks and calls for the “immediate and unconditional” release of the Israeli hostages still held.
Hamas condemns Israel’s “blackmail”
Hamas, for its part, called in a statement “on the United Nations and international organizations not to give in to Israel's threats and blackmail” and accused Israel of wanting to “cut off resources and withdraw all international aid” from the people of Gaza. .
VIDEO. Displaced people in the Gaza Strip loot UN food supply center
These employees are accused by Israel of being involved in Hamas raids that killed nearly 1,200 people, many of them civilians, in villages in southern Israel and at the site of an open-air music festival. According to the US, 12 employees are the target of this investigation; the extent of their alleged involvement is not yet known.
The United States, Canada, Italy… are stopping their aid
The agency provides valuable support to Gazans fleeing intense bombardment by the Israeli army, which does not spare civilians. According to its director Philippe Lazzarini, two million people in Gaza depend on its help. Its measures are largely financed by voluntary contributions from UN member states.
Washington has “temporarily” suspended all additional funding for the UN agency, with several other donor countries following suit on Saturday. American diplomacy chief Antony Blinken spoke to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to “underscore the need for a rapid and thorough investigation into this matter.” After Canada and Australia, Italy is now also stopping its aid to UNRWA this Saturday.
The Italian government receives financial support @UNRWA After Hamas's horrific attack against Israel on October 7th. I all recently made a decision. If you fail to respond to the assistance of the Palestinian people, you must protect Israel's security.
— Antonio Tajani (@Antonio_Tajani) January 27, 2024
“The Italian government suspended funding to UNRWA following the horrific Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th. The Allied countries recently made the same decision. We are committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population and protecting the security of Israel,” wrote Antonio Tajani on X (ex-Twitter).
The United Nations Organization for Palestinian Refugees needs “maximum support” and “not for support and assistance to be stopped,” Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh said on X on Saturday.