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UNRWA Hamas attack claims: UK becomes latest country to pause funding for agency UNRWA Hamas attack claims: UK becomes latest country to pause funding for agency
(32 minutes later)
A UNRWA trailer carrying fuel heads for Gaza at the Rafah Border CrossingA UNRWA trailer carrying fuel heads for Gaza at the Rafah Border Crossing
The UK has become the latest country to pause funding for the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA.The UK has become the latest country to pause funding for the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA.
It comes after the agency announced the sacking of several of its staff over allegations of involvement in the 7 October Hamas attacks.It comes after the agency announced the sacking of several of its staff over allegations of involvement in the 7 October Hamas attacks.
The UK government said it is "appalled" by the allegations made by Israel. The UK government said it was "appalled" by the allegations made by Israel.
The US, Australia, Italy and Canada have already suspended additional funding to the UN agency.The US, Australia, Italy and Canada have already suspended additional funding to the UN agency.
UNRWA says it has ordered an investigation into information supplied by Israel. Created in 1949, UNRWA provides health care, education and other humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Since Israel began its ground offensive in October, UNRWA has used its facilities across Gaza to shelter hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians.
It says it has ordered an investigation into information supplied by Israel.
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".
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".
"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.
The allegations prompted reaction from major donors.
"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."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.
"The UK is temporarily pausing any future funding of UNWRA whilst we review these concerning allegations," it added."The UK is temporarily pausing any future funding of UNWRA whilst we review these concerning allegations," it added.
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.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 EU also said that it would assess further steps "based on the result of the full and comprehensive investigation".
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "horrified by this news".UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "horrified by this news".
The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said a full investigation into the allegations was being carried out "to establish the truth without delay."The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said a full investigation into the allegations was being carried out "to establish the truth without delay."
Mr Lazzarini added: "To protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members."Mr Lazzarini added: "To protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members."
He said any staff found to have been involved in "acts of terror" would be held accountable.He said 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. Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz said he aimed to stop UNRWA operating in Gaza after the war.
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." But 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".
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."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.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.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.
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".
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".
"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.
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 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.
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
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