States cut funds for UN Gaza agency

UNITED NATIONS—UN chief Antonio Guterres is pleading with donor states to continue funding the body’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) after several stopped giving money over accusations that members of its staff in Gaza were involved in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Around 10 key UNRWA donor countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and Switzerland, have said that they would suspend current or future funding following the allegations.

“While I understand their concerns—I was myself horrified by these accusations—I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations,” Guterres said in a statement on Saturday.

Israel has alleged that several UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas’ attack, leading a number of key donor countries to suspend their funding.

The agency has fired several staff over Israel’s accusations, promising a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified.

Israel has meanwhile vowed to stop the agency’s work in Gaza after the war.

‘Collusion’ with Hamas

The sacking of 12 UNRWA employees came as Israel accused another UN body, the World Health Organization (WHO), of colluding with Hamas after its officials allegedly ignored evidence of Palestinian militants operating in Gaza hospitals and medical facilities, which are reportedly used as command centers or holding hostages from Israel.

A woman with her mouse tapped takes part in a “Save Our Girls Demonstration” outside the Tate Modern museum, in central London, on January 26, 2024, to bring attention to the plight of the kidnapped Israeli women in Gaza who have been held by Hamas for over 110 days. Thousands of civilians, both Palestinians and Israelis, have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants based in the Gaza Strip entered southern Israel in an unprecedented attack triggering a war declared by Israel on Hamas with retaliatory bombings on Gaza. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP).

The row between Israel and UNRWA also follows the UN’s International Court of Justice ruling on Friday that Israel must prevent possible acts of genocide in the conflict and allow more aid into Gaza.“The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences,” Guterres said.

“But the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized,” he added.

“The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met.”

Guterres confirmed that 12 UNRWA employees were cited in the accusations, which the United Nations is investigating.

Nine have been fired, one is dead and “the identity of the two others is being clarified,” he said.

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‘Blackmail’

Israel’s envoy to the UN on Sunday slammed Guterres, saying the UN chief had repeatedly ignored “evidence” presented to him regarding UNRWA’s involvement in “incitement and terrorism.”

“Any country that continues to fund UNRWA before a comprehensive investigation of the organization should know that its money will be used for terrorism and the aid that will be transferred to UNRWA may reach the Hamas terrorists instead of the population in Gaza,” Gilad Erdan said in a statement issued by Israel’s foreign ministry.Hamas decried Israeli “threats” against UNRWA on Saturday, urging the UN and other international organizations not to “cave in to the threats and blackmail.”

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan speaks during a ceremony observing International Holocaust Remembrance Day at UN headquarters in New York on January 26, 2024. Holocaust Remembrance Day is held annually on January 27, to remember the killing of six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators. (Photo by Charly TRIBALLEAU / AFP) / ALTERNATE CROP.

The Islamist group’s Oct. 7 attack resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) tally of official figures.

Militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead captives.

Israel’s military offensive has killed at least 26,257 people, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.