Many key donor nations to the UN company for Palestinian refugees joined the US and mentioned on Saturday that they might freeze their funding after Israel's accusations that a number of UNRWA workers have been concerned within the October 7 Hamas assault.
The US State Division mentioned on Friday that they’ve suspended funds to the group. The USA pressured that “UNRWA performs a essential function in offering life-saving help to Palestinians, together with important meals, medication, shelter and different very important humanitarian help.” UNRWA is the UN humanitarian company serving the Palestinians.
The group mentioned it had opened an investigation into allegations by Israel that a few of its workers members participated The assault by Hamas on October 7. State Division spokesman Matthew Miller mentioned 12 UNRWA staff have been charged with involvement.
The top of UNWRA, Philippe Lazzarini, mentioned in an announcement on Saturday that 9 nations have suspended funding to the company which threatens “our ongoing humanitarian work all through the area together with and particularly within the Gaza Strip.” . He added, “It could be immensely irresponsible to sanction an Company and a whole neighborhood that it serves due to allegations of prison acts towards sure people, particularly in a time of warfare, displacement and political crises within the area.”
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Canada's Worldwide Improvement Minister Ahmed Hussen additionally introduced on Friday that Ottawa had “quickly paused any extra funding to UNRWA whereas it undertakes a radical investigation into these allegations.”
UNRWA responded by saying it had fired a number of workers over Israel's accusations, promising a radical investigation into the claims, which weren’t specified, whereas Israel promised to cease the company's work in Gaza after the warfare The primary UN spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, mentioned that Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres was knowledgeable concerning the scenario by Lazzarini and was “horrified by this information and requested Mr. Lazzarini to rapidly examine this matter.”
Right here's what the nations that suspended funding mentioned concerning the allegations:
Germany introduced late Saturday that they’re suspending funding to UNRWA.
Australian Overseas Minister Penny Wong mentioned on Saturday that whereas UNRWA was offering “very important and life-saving work”, Brisbane would “quickly droop the supply of current funding”.
“We welcome the speedy response of UNRWA, together with the termination of contracts and the launch of an investigation,” he mentioned on the X social platform.
Finland, which had a four-year settlement to supply 5 million euros ($5.4 million) a 12 months to UNRWA, suspended its funds and known as for “an unbiased and thorough investigation,” in an announcement his Ministry of Overseas Affairs.
“We now have to ensure that not a single euro of Finnish cash goes to Hamas or different terrorists,” he mentioned.
Italian Overseas Minister Antonio Tajani mentioned he was becoming a member of the ranks of these suspending funding, including: “We’re dedicated to offering humanitarian assist to the Palestinian inhabitants whereas defending Israel's safety.”
Switzerland, which has made annual contributions of about 20 million Swiss francs ($23 million) to UNRWA, mentioned on Saturday that no determination shall be made on the 2024 fee till the costs are settled. be clarified.
“Switzerland has zero tolerance for all types of help for terrorism, and for calls to hatred or incitement to violence,” he added.
Dutch Commerce and Improvement Minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen introduced a funding freeze for UNRWA whereas the investigation is ongoing, saying the federal government was “extraordinarily shocked”.
“The accusation is that the assault was carried out on October 7 with UN cash, with our cash,” he advised public broadcaster NOS on Saturday.
The British authorities mentioned it was “appalled by the allegations” made by Israel and would “quickly freeze any future funding” whereas the Overseas Workplace seemed into the claims. The top of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, promised to carry “accountable, even via prison prosecution”, any worker of the company who was concerned in “acts of terror”.
Canada's Worldwide Improvement Minister Ahmed Hussen additionally introduced on Friday that Ottawa had “quickly paused any extra funding to UNRWA whereas it undertakes a radical investigation into these allegations.”
Guterres promised to conduct “an pressing and complete unbiased assessment of UNRWA,” Dujarric mentioned.
Haley Ott contributed to this report.
