Italy, Australia, US, Canada halt help after Israel accused UNRWA workers of involvement in Hamas’s October 7 assaults.
High Palestinian officers and Hamas have criticised the choice by some Western international locations to droop funding to the United Nations aid company for Palestinians and known as for a direct reversal of the transfer that entails “nice” threat.
The UN Reduction and Works Company for Palestine Refugees within the Close to East (UNRWA) earlier stated it had opened an investigation into some workers that Israel alleges have been concerned within the October 7 assaults that triggered the present battle.
On Saturday, Palestine Liberation Group (PLO) Secretary-Basic Hussein al-Sheikh stated the international locations’ resolution “entails nice political and humanitarian aid dangers”.
“At this specific time and in gentle of the persevering with aggression in opposition to the Palestinian folks, we’d like the utmost help for this worldwide group and never stopping help and help to it,” he wrote on X, urging the international locations to “instantly reverse their resolution”.
We name on the international locations that introduced the cessation of their help for #UNRWA to right away reverse their resolution, which entails nice political and humanitarian aid dangers, as at this specific time and in gentle of the persevering with aggression in opposition to the Palestinian… https://t.co/mxIam0zmZs
— حسين الشيخ Hussein AlSheikh (@HusseinSheikhpl) January 27, 2024
Italy, Australia, Canada and america stated they might halt funding to the company, whereas European Union international coverage chief Josep Borrell stated the 27-member bloc would “assess additional steps and draw classes primarily based on the results of the complete and complete investigation”.
Hamas on Saturday slammed Israeli “threats” in opposition to the company, after Israel accused a number of UNRWA workers of involvement in Hamas’s October 7 assaults in southern Israel that the authorities there say killed about 1,140 folks.
“We ask the UN and the worldwide organisations to not collapse to the threats and blackmail” from Israel, Hamas’s press workplace stated in a submit on Telegram.
On Friday, UNRWA stated it had fired a number of workers and that it had opened an investigation into the allegations.
“The Israeli authorities have offered UNRWA with details about the alleged involvement of a number of UNRWA workers within the horrific assaults on Israel on October 7,” stated UNRWA Commissioner-Basic Philippe Lazzarini.
“To guard the company’s capacity to ship humanitarian help, I’ve taken the choice to right away terminate the contracts of those workers members and launch an investigation with a view to set up the reality immediately.”
Support freeze
Italy’s Overseas Minister Antonio Tajani stated on Saturday that his nation was becoming a member of its allies and slicing its help for the company.
“Allied international locations have taken an analogous resolution. We’re dedicated to offering humanitarian assist to the Palestinian inhabitants whereas defending Israel’s safety,” he posted on X.
Australia’s Overseas Minister Penny Wong stated she was “deeply involved” by the allegations in opposition to UNRWA.
“We’re talking with companions and can quickly pause disbursement of current funding,” she wrote on X.
“We welcome UNRWA’s fast response, together with terminating contracts and launching an investigation, in addition to its current announcement of a full investigation into allegations in opposition to the group,” she added.
Israel praised the international locations for halting their help to the UN company, saying it needs to fully cease its operations after the battle on Gaza has ended.
Commending the US authorities for its resolution to stop funding to @UNRWA after it was revealed that a few of its workers have been concerned within the heinous bloodbath on #October7.
We’ve got been warning for years: @UNRWA perpetuates the refugee subject, obstructs peace, and serves as a…
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) January 27, 2024
Overseas Minister Israel Katz stated Israel “goals to selling a coverage guaranteeing that UNRWA is not going to be part of the day after, addressing different contributing elements”.
“We’ll work to garner bipartisan help within the US, the European Union, and different nations globally for this coverage aimed toward halting UNRWA’s actions in Gaza,” he stated.
Impartial investigation
Canada’s Worldwide Growth Minister Ahmed Hussen on Friday introduced that Ottawa had “quickly paused any further funding to UNRWA whereas it undertakes a radical investigation into these allegations”.
“Canada is taking these studies extraordinarily significantly and is participating intently with UNRWA and different donors on this subject,” he wrote on X.
“Ought to the allegations show to be correct, Canada expects UNRWA to right away act in opposition to these decided to have been concerned in Hamas’s terrorist assaults.”
The US halted funding to UNRWA on Friday due to the allegations in opposition to 12 workers who “might have been concerned” within the Hamas assault.
Lazzarini didn’t disclose the variety of workers nor the character of their alleged involvement, however stated “any UNRWA worker who was concerned in acts of terror” can be held accountable, together with by way of prison prosecution.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has pledged to conduct an “pressing and complete unbiased overview of UNRWA”.
At the least 26,257 folks have been killed and 64,797 wounded in Israeli assaults on Gaza since October 7.