More countries suspend aid to UN agency on Palestine

Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland on Saturday joined the United States, Australia and Canada in suspending funding to the aid agency, a vital source of assistance for people in Gaza, following the Israeli accusations. “The Palestinians in Gaza do not deserve this additional collective punishment,” Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner general, told X.

More countries are willing to support the United Nations Agency for Palestine, picture 1 — Palestinians receive aid in Gaza City on January 27, 2024. Photo: Reuters

The agency said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several staff members and severed ties with them. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said UNRWA should be replaced once fighting in the area subsides.

“Overall, UNRWA has a good record and we have repeatedly stressed this,” UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, when asked about Katz’s comments, said.

Lazzarini said the decision by the nine countries threatened their humanitarian work across the region, particularly in Gaza. “It is shocking to see funding for the Agency suspended in response to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action UNRWA has taken by terminating their contract and demanding a transparent independent investigation,” he said.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry criticized what it described as an Israeli campaign against UNRWA.

UNRWA was established to help refugees from the 1948 war to provide education , health and aid services to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. It has helped most of Gaza's 2.3 million population and played a key aid role in Israel's war against Hamas after the October 7 attack.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters)

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