2024-02-01 12:04:56
Senior UN officials are urging the world’s richest countries to renew funding for the UN Aid Agency for Palestinian refugees, saying that it remains essential to the survival of millions of citizens in Gaza who did not receive enough humanitarian aid even before the funding suspensions – this is what the “New York” publishes today (Thursday) Times”.
“There are other agencies in the world”: Netanyahu’s solution to replace UNRA
UNRA is on the way out: Palestinian refugees will receive services from international organizations
Senior UN officials and representatives of aid agencies said on Wednesday that the collapse of UNRWA would be catastrophic, and that there is no other organization that could fill its place. Even before the war between Israel and Hamas began about four months ago, the agency played a central role in providing food, water, health, education, shelter and sanitation services to Palestinians in Gaza, and it has become even more essential with the deepening humanitarian crisis, the officials said.
The United States and several other countries suspended their contributions to the agency after Israel said 12 of UNRWA’s 13,000 workers in the Gaza Strip were involved in the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
The UN has said it is investigating the Israeli claims and has fired most of the accused staff. UN officials say the agency will have to begin shutting down, possibly by the end of February, if funding is not renewed.
The “life-saving services” that UNRWA provides “to more than three-quarters of the residents of Gaza should not be jeopardized by the alleged actions of a few individuals,” Martin Griffiths, the UN’s head of humanitarian affairs, told the UN Security Council. This is an incredible lack of proportion.” He also added: “Our humanitarian response to the occupied Palestinian territories depends completely, completely, on adequate funding and operation of UNRA.”
In the meantime, the subcommittee for foreign policy and information headed by MK Zeev Elkinheld another discussion today that dealt with positions and activities vis-à-vis UNRWA. In the discussion, which was confidential, the relevant government bodies participated, which presented their positions regarding the continuation of UNRWA’s activities in the short and long term. The bodies referred to the events of the past week as well as the suspension of UNRWA’s funding.
Elkin: “In all the discussions in the committee, more and more data were revealed time and time again proving that UNRA has become a central part of the civil government arm of Hamas. The State of Israel cannot accept the continuation of this reality, and must do everything so that Hamas cannot continue to fortify its rule in the Gaza Strip through UNRA.
The agency’s activity only perpetuates the problem of Palestinian refugees, the atmosphere of incitement and hatred against Israel, and is used as a game tool by Hamas. I appeal to the Prime Minister and the parties dealing with the issue with the demand to do everything in order not to miss the current window of opportunity and bring about an end to UNRA’s activities in the Gaza Strip as a servant of Hamas.’ Next week, the committee will hold a follow-up discussion on the issue, which will be open.
As I recall, yesterday the Prime Minister met with a delegation of ambassadors to the UN, among whom were present the ambassadors of Malta, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and other countries. In his words, Netanyahu said: “The time has come for the international community and the UN itself to understand that UNRWA’s mission must be ended.”
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, also spoke: “Any country that continues to fund UNRA 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 UNRA may reach Hamas terrorists instead of the population in Gaza. I call on all donor countries to freeze their support and demand an in-depth investigation that will attack all employees of the organization.”
Defense Minister Gallant to a delegation of ambassadors from the UN: “UNRA has lost its legitimacy to exist in its current form – money from the countries of the world was invested through UNRA to strengthen terrorist infrastructures and pay terrorists.”
Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan (Photo: Ariel Harmoni, Ministry of Defense)
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