:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/33SCHAY6XJFW5JH5QVO44K33F4.jpg "Which countries stopped funding the UN agency in Gaza due to its link to the Hamas attack on Israel")
Several key donor countries to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Saturday they would suspend their funding, following accusations by Israel that several UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack. UNRWA responded by saying it had fired several staff over Israel’s allegations, promising a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified, while Israel promised to stop the agency’s work in Gaza after the war.
Here is what the countries that have suspended funding have said about the accusations:
The US State Department on Friday suspended payments and welcomed the UN’s announcement to conduct an investigation into the allegations, calling for “full accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks.”
He also stressed that “UNRWA plays a critical role in providing life-saving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter and other vital humanitarian support.”
The British government declared itself “dismayed by the allegations” from Israel and will “temporarily suspend any future funding” while the Foreign Office examines the claims.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated on Saturday that while UNRWA provides “vital, life-saving work”, Brisbane will “temporarily pause the disbursement of recent funding”.
“We welcome UNRWA’s immediate response, including the termination of contracts and the launch of an investigation,” he said on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.
Canada’s International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen announced Friday that Ottawa had “temporarily suspended any additional funding to UNRWA while it conducts a thorough investigation into these allegations.”
Finland, which had a four-year agreement to provide five million euros ($5.4 million) annually to UNRWA, suspended its payments and called for an “independent and thorough investigation,” in a statement from its foreign ministry. .
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani declared that he was joining the ranks of those suspending funding, adding: “We are committed to providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population while protecting Israel’s security.”
And these are the countries and organizations that expressed their concern:
Switzerland, which has made annual contributions of around 20 million Swiss francs ($23 million) to UNRWA, said on Saturday that no decision would be made on the 2024 payment until the allegations were clarified.
UNRWA director Philippe Lazzarini pledged to hold “accountability, including criminal responsibility,” to any agency employee involved in “acts of terror.”
U.N. chief Antonio Guterres pledged to conduct an “urgent, comprehensive, independent review of UNRWA,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Dutch Trade and Development Minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen announced a freeze on UNRWA funding for the duration of the investigation, saying the government was “extremely shocked.”
“The accusation is that the attack was committed on October 7 with UN money, with our money,” he declared on Saturday to the public broadcaster NOS.
The German Foreign Ministry said it is “deeply concerned by the serious allegations” made against UNRWA employees. “We welcome that Philippe Lazzarini has already fired them and announced an investigation. We hope it is exhaustive and complete,” he warned.
He added: “We hope that Lazzarini makes it clear within the UNRWA staff that all forms of hatred and violence are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated. “UNRWA’s important role is to provide indispensable and vital assistance to the Palestinians.”
The European Commission (EC) and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, trusted this Friday that UNRWA offers “total transparency” and takes action on “the personnel involved.”
“The Commission will evaluate the next steps and draw conclusions based on the outcome of the complete and exhaustive investigation,” the EC and Borrell said in a joint statement, and reiterated their “strongest condemnation of the attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israel, that have no justification.”
The Austrian government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported that “the accusations of the participation of UNRWA personnel in the barbaric Hamas terrorist attacks are shocking and alarming” and considered that “the UN must be beyond reproach; It is a question of credibility.”
He noted that he expects immediate action from the UN that includes a “thorough and rapid investigation,” “full accountability of the personnel involved” and a “transparent and detailed explanation of the next steps to be taken.”
The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs reported that it “has learned with dismay” of the information about the link between the UN agency and the terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7 and stated that it “takes note of the statement of UNRWA press release announcing the opening of an investigation and the suspension of these employees.”
“France reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas and other terrorist groups on October 7. We call on UNRWA to take action to ensure that hate speech can no longer flourish in its ranks without firm sanctions,” he stated in an official note.
On the other hand, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, thanked this Saturday the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia and Finland for suspending their funding to UNRWA following accusations of collusion with Hamas.
“Israel claims that a dozen UNRWA workers participated in the attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, which included the launching of thousands of rockets and the simultaneous infiltration of militants who massacred some 1,200 people and kidnapped another 250 in Israeli towns. close to the Gaza Strip.”
UNRWA announced on Friday the immediate dismissal of several members of its staff, and the launch of an investigation “to establish the truth” and “to protect the agency’s ability to provide assistance” in Gaza.
With more than 30,000 employees, UNRWA is the largest organization in Gaza outside the Government of the Strip, which has been de facto controlled by Hamas since 2007.