donors withdraw from UN agency after controversy over alleged role of certain employees in Hamas attack

Italy, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Finland followed in the footsteps of the United States, suspending all additional aid to UNRWA. At issue: accusations brought by Israel against employees.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is at the heart of humanitarian aid in Gaza. But for several days, it has been caught in the turmoil of a controversy over the possible role of some of its employees in the October 7 attack. The agency separated from employees – twelve according to the Americans – accused of being involved in the attack perpetrated on October 7 by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israeli soil, based on information from Israeli authorities. The alleged facts were not specified.

Italy, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Finland followed in the footsteps of the United States, which had announced the day before to temporarily suspend all additional aid to the agency. She has already been vilified by Israel for a long time, but she is now asked to conduct a thorough internal investigation. The Israeli government wants to ensure that the agency “will not be part of the post-war solution in this Palestinian territory” and hopes to “stop” all its activities, declared Israel Katz, the head of diplomacy.

UNRWA has not yet reacted to these announcements

“France has taken note with dismay of the information communicated today by UNRWA, relating to the participation of some of these employees in terrorist attacks”, reacted the Quai d’Orsay, in a press release published Friday. Paris did not specify its position on financial aid to the agency. The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell remained cautious. Stressing that the agency was playing “a vital role”he said wait “full transparency” and “immediate measures” before making a decision. Switzerland has also decided not to decide, wishing “more information” before approving its budget for 2024.

Unrwa did not react on Saturday to the announcements of suspension of funds. In total, it specifies on its site, the agency employs 13,000 people in the Gaza Strip. Contacted by AFP, Johann Soufi, international lawyer and former director of the UNRWA legal office in Gaza, defended the “zero tolerance policy for violence and incitement to hatred” of the agency. But “sanctioning UNRWA, which is barely keeping the entire population of Gaza alive, for the alleged responsibility of a few employees, amounts to collectively punishing the Gazan population who live in catastrophic humanitarian conditions”.

Hamas, for its part, demanded in a statement “the United Nations and international organizations not to give in to threats and blackmail”accusing Israel of wanting “cut off funds and deprive” the Gazans of any international aid.