2024-01-27 15:45:47
Britain has temporarily suspended funding to the UN agency for the welfare of Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The UN agency has announced the dismissal of a number of staff following allegations that UN agency officials were involved in the October 7 lightning attack in Israel. Following this, Britain, Australia, Italy and Canada came forward to announce the temporary suspension of financial assistance.
The UNRWA agency said it had ordered an investigation based on information provided by Israel, alleging that UN agency officials were involved in the Hamas attack. UNRW chief Philippe Lazzarini said that an investigation is underway into the allegations and action will be taken against those found to be involved in the attack. The European Union also said that further action will be assessed based on the results of the comprehensive investigation.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres responded that this is shocking news. The ‘Al-Aqsa Flood’ carried out by Hamas in Israel was a heinous act that the British government has repeatedly condemned, and the news that UN agency officials are involved in such an act is shocking. A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also said that they are committed to providing humanitarian aid to those suffering in Gaza in times of need.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia would oversee the UN agency’s investigation and was consulting with international partners. Australia’s announcement of the funding freeze came a day after it announced it would double humanitarian aid to women and children suffering in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Last week, the United States announced that it had decided to cut the funding to the UN agency for the welfare of Palestinian refugees by more than half. The United States also stated that it was deeply troubled by the news that UN officials were involved in the attack. In this situation, Belgium has come forward with a helping hand to the Palestinian refugees. In a statement in Brussels, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, Alexandre de Croux, promised to pay 2.3 million dollars to the UN agency for Palestine refugees.
The US Department of State has decided to withhold 650 million dollars from the 125 million dollars given to the UN agency. This amount has been given by the United States for the past 70 years to more than 5 million Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria.
Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Hussein al-Sheikh said the decision by some countries to suspend support for the UN agency bringing emergency aid to the people suffering in Gaza poses huge humanitarian and political risks.
More than 26,000 Palestinians have already been killed in the three-month conflict in Gaza. Last day, the BBC quoted the adviser of the Prime Minister of Israel and released the news that UN officials were involved in the Hamas attack. The United States and Germany are the largest donors to the UN agency.
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