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Hamas attack: US pauses UNRWA funding over claims of staff involvement Hamas attack: More countries pause UN funding over claims of staff involvement
(about 3 hours later)
The US, Germany and the EU are among some of UNRWA's biggest donorsThe US, Germany and the EU are among some of UNRWA's biggest donors
The US is pausing funding for the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, over allegations of staff involvement in the 7 October Hamas attacks. The UK, Australia, Italy and Canada have become the latest countries to pause funding for the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA.
UNRWA says it has sacked several people and ordered an investigation into information supplied by Israel. This comes after the agency announced the sacking of several of its staff over allegations of involvement in the 7 October Hamas attacks.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "horrified by this news" and has called for a swift investigation. UNRWA says it has ordered an investigation into information supplied by Israel.
Hamas killed 1,300 people, mostly civilians, in the unprecedented attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "horrified by this news".
"The UK is appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned," the UK Foreign Office said in a statement.
Earlier, the US State Department announced that it was suspending additional funding to the UN agency, saying it was "extremely troubled" by the allegations of UN staff involvement in the attacks.
The EU also said that it would assess further steps "based on the result of the full and comprehensive investigation".
The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said a full investigation into the allegations was being carried out and any staff found to have been involved in "acts of terror" would be held accountable.
The Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, said that her country would "engage closely with UNRWA on investigations" and was consulting its international partners.
Ms Wong added: "Australia will continue to support the people of Gaza and work to provide humanitarian assistance. We reiterate our calls for civilians to be protected, and for humanitarian access."
This comes just days after Ms Wong announced a near doubling of the humanitarian funding directed to "conflict-affected populations", "with a focus on women and children", in the occupied Palestinian territories.
She pledged $21.5m (£18.4m) in new funding, including $6m for UNRWA.
Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz said he aimed to stop UNRWA operating in Gaza after the war. He said that he would try to gather support from the US, EU and other major donors to the agency.
The Palestinian Authority's minister for civilian affairs, Hussein Al-Sheikh, said the decision by some countries to pause support for the vital UN agency "entails great political and humanitarian relief risks".
Mr al-Sheikh urged Western donors to immediately reverse their decision, adding: "We need the maximum support for this international organisation."
In a post on Telegram, Hamas's press office said the group urged the UN and the international organisations "to not cave in to the threats and blackmail" from Israel.
Hamas killed 1,300 people, mostly civilians, in the unprecedented attack on southern Israeli communities on 7 October last year.
Another 250 people were taken hostage. The events triggered Israel's retaliatory attacks on Hamas in Gaza, which have killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.Another 250 people were taken hostage. The events triggered Israel's retaliatory attacks on Hamas in Gaza, which have killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Announcing its decision to temporarily halt funding, the US state department said it was "extremely troubled" by the allegations of UN staff involvement in the attacks. On Friday, an adviser to the Israeli prime minister told the BBC that the 7 October Hamas attacks had involved "people who are on their [UNRWA] salaries".
The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini said, on Friday that Israel had provided his organisation "with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7".
He said UNRWA had placed a number of employees under investigation and severed ties with them.
An adviser to the Israeli prime minister told the BBC that the 7 October Hamas attacks had involved "people who are on their [UNRWA] salaries".
Mark Regev said there was information showing teachers working in UNRWA schools had "openly celebrated" the 7 October attacks.Mark Regev said there was information showing teachers working in UNRWA schools had "openly celebrated" the 7 October attacks.
He also referred to an Israeli hostage who, on her release, said she had been "held in the house of someone who worked for UNRWA".He also referred to an Israeli hostage who, on her release, said she had been "held in the house of someone who worked for UNRWA".
"They have a union which is controlled by Hamas and I think it's high time that the UN investigated these links between UNRWA and Hamas," he added."They have a union which is controlled by Hamas and I think it's high time that the UN investigated these links between UNRWA and Hamas," he added.
Israel will seek to stop the agency from operating in Gaza after the war, the country's foreign minister Israel Katz said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said he had asked Mr Lazzarini to investigate "this matter swiftly".
He added that the probe must make sure any UNRWA employee "shown to have participated or abetted" in the 7 October attack be sacked and referred for potential criminal prosecution.
Washington said it welcomed Mr Guterres's call for a "thorough and swift investigation".
The EU also said in a statement it was "extremely concerned" by the allegations and would assess further steps "based on the result of the full and comprehensive investigation".
The US, Germany and the EU are among some of UNRWA's biggest donors.The US, Germany and the EU are among some of UNRWA's biggest donors.
The agency provides education, healthcare and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.The agency provides education, healthcare and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
However it says it is struggling to get humanitarian aid to many of the estimated 1.7m people - nearly three-quarters of the population - displaced by 12 weeks of fighting. However, it says it is struggling to get humanitarian aid to many of the estimated 1.7 million people - nearly three-quarters of the population - displaced by 12 weeks of fighting.
A number of UN facilities where Gazans had taken shelter have been hit in Israeli air strikes.A number of UN facilities where Gazans had taken shelter have been hit in Israeli air strikes.
On Thursday, 12 people were killed when a UN shelter was struck in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.On Thursday, 12 people were killed when a UN shelter was struck in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Israel-Gaza warIsrael-Gaza war
United NationsUnited Nations
United StatesUnited States