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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) | |
| UNRWA has been struggling to get humanitarian aid to many Gazans | UNRWA has been struggling to get humanitarian aid to many Gazans |
| 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 they were involved in the 7 October Hamas attacks. | |
| The UK government said it was "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. |
| Created in 1949, UNRWA provides health care, education and other humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It employs around 13,000 people inside Gaza. | |
| Since Israel began its offensive in response to the 7 October attacks, 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. |
| The allegations prompted reaction from major donors. | 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. |
| Huge push for Gaza aid - but little hope for those suffering | Huge push for Gaza aid - but little hope for those suffering |
| Israeli protesters hold up aid trucks to Gaza | Israeli protesters hold up aid trucks to Gaza |
| 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 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." |
| "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. | |
| 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. |
| Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz said he aimed to stop UNRWA operating in Gaza after the war. | Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz said he aimed to stop UNRWA operating in Gaza after the war. |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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. |
| 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 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. | 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. |
| 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 Wednesday, 12 people were killed when a UN shelter was struck in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Israel-Gaza war | Israel-Gaza war |
| United Nations | United Nations |
| United States | United States |