The UK will temporarily stop funding the UN relief agency in Gaza over allegations its members were involved in a Hamas attack on Israel.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday that it had dismissed “several” of its employees due to accusations made by… Israel That 12 employees participated in the October 7 attack.
Following the allegations, the State Department said it would “temporarily suspend any future funding to UNRWA while we review these troubling allegations.”
She expressed her “dismay” at these allegations, and added: “We remain committed to delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza who are in dire need of it.”
The UK's decision comes after the US, Italy, Australia and Canada suspended additional funding for the UN aid agency.
Finland also announced that it would suspend funding following the announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
In a statement issued by the State Department, the United States said it was “deeply troubled” by the allegations, and noted that it had “temporarily suspended additional funding to UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.” .
She also said: “There must be full accountability for everyone involved in the heinous October 7 attacks.”
UNRWA Director-General Philippe Lazzarini said the decision to dismiss the staff was taken “to protect the agency's ability to provide humanitarian assistance.”
He added, “Any UNRWA employee involved in terrorist acts will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.”
Speaking to Axios news agency, a senior Israeli official said that Shin Bet and the IDF provided information alleging the active participation of UNRWA staff, along with the use of agency vehicles and facilities, on October 7.
“This was solid, confirmed intelligence,” the official told Axios.
“Much of the intelligence came as a result of the interrogation of militants who were arrested during the October 7 attack.”
UNRWA, founded in 1949 in the wake of the First Arab-Israeli War, has repeatedly said throughout Israel's war on Hamas that its ability to provide humanitarian aid to people in Gaza was on the verge of collapse.
Authorities including the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu They previously accused the agency of inciting anti-Israel sentiment, which the agency denies.
