UNRWA | Israel – Hamas war in Gaza: What is Israel accusing UNRWA of? | What is UNRWA? | Which countries have stopped funding UNRWA? | UN | Benjamin Netanyahu | Palestine | the world

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the main aid agency GazaIn the eye of the storm. Israel The Palestinian Islamic Movement has blamed some of its staff for the attacks Hamas On October 7 in Israeli territory. In response, many countries, including the United States, which play a key role in feeding millions of civilians, have announced they will freeze aid.

Although Israel Details of his complaint have not been released UNRWA It has already announced it will lay off at least 12 employees as a result of the allegations.

Meera: The war in Gaza has cost Israel millions of dollars

On Friday, an Israeli official told the news network CNN what Israel He shared information about 12 employees of the company UNRWA Allegedly involved in the October 7 attacks. Both informed the agency him etc America.

This Sunday, American newspaper The New York Times He gave the details of the complaint.

According to the NYT, UNRWA staff They kidnapped IsraelisCarrying explosives and the body of a dead Israeli soldier, he participated in a deadly attack. Kibbutz when October 7 Hamas terrorist attack.

The newspaper was able to access the report provided to it America Says a school counselor UNRWA of Khan Younis, South is in Gaza “Accused of working with son to kidnap woman from Israel”.

“A social worker at the heart of Nusirat Gaza“They are accused of helping transport the body of a dead Israeli soldier to Gaza, distributing ammunition and coordinating vehicles on the day of the attack,” the report, cited by the NYT, added.

Also, a third employee UNRWA described as Participant in the Kibbutz Massacre where 97 people died.

According to the NYT, the report Israel Disclosing names, details and positions at UNRWA 12 workers are said to be involved, and 10 of the workers in question are members of Hamas, it maintains. Belongs to someone Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

That too is upheld by the report Seven of the accused were teachers in UNRWA schools, and two worked in schools in different capacities. The other three are a EmployeeAnd Social worker and A Warehouse Manager.

as Israel The workers were said to be involved UNRWA? According to the report, Israeli intelligence The phones of 6 accused were trackedAnd there was access Phone calls of other employees allegedly involved in the attack. They also approached Text messages received by the other three, in which they were ordered to report to assembly points before the attack Hamas A IsraelIncluding one ordered to carry RPG grenades stored in his home.

UN

At least 152 UNRWA staff have been killed in Gaza since fighting between Israel and Hamas began on October 7.

In a statement issued on Saturday in this regard, Hamas He criticized and blamed the decision to terminate the contracts of the employees Israel Trying to undermine UNRWA and other organizations providing humanitarian assistance Gaza.

What will happen to UNRWA?

Israel He said on Saturday that he was trying to finish the balance Gaza UN Foreign Minister, Israel GodsThe government “wants to ensure that UNRWA Palestine should not be part of the solution after the war.

Gods He called on donors to support organizations that are “truly committed to peace and development” and invited the director. UNRWAFilipe Lazzarini, to leave his post.

“Mr Lazzarini, please resign,” he said. Gods Saturday night on social networking site X.

For his part, Lazzarini said Saturday that while “shocked to see funding for the agency suspended in response to allegations against a small group of its employees,” actions have already been taken and “the very survival of the agency” depends on that help.” Two million people in the Gaza Strip”.

On Monday, the agency asked donor countries “Don't ignore Gaza” and “continue humanitarian assistance.”

“The vast majority of Gazans rely on UNRWA to survive,” the organization said in a statement, which pledged that 13,000 collaborators were “working tirelessly in unimaginable conditions” to deliver aid to the region.

Which countries have cut aid to UNRWA?

After the complaint IsraelA dozen countries announced they would end aid UNRWA.

On Friday, The United States stopped funding the United Nations. The State Department said it was “extremely concerned” about the allegations surrounding UNRWA and had “temporarily suspended additional funding (…) while it examines these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.”

Other countries that stopped disbursement of funds United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Italy, Finland, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Japan.

For its part, Swiss It has said conditions for its assistance UNRWA For the final results of the investigation on its employees.

when Spain He has insisted that he will not reduce his contribution. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait have also said the same.

What is UNRWA's importance to Palestinians?

United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Middle East It has played a vital role for millions of Palestinians since its creation in 1949 and is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from governments.

In 2022, funding from the UN regular budget and contributions from other UN agencies 44.6 million dollars.

The top five donors are the United States, Germany, the European Union, Sweden and Norway. Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Switzerland also contribute.

The UNRWA It was created by the UN General Assembly in December 1949 after the first Arab-Israeli conflict. Israel In May 1948, according to a review by the AFP agency.

Its function is to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees registered in its operations, “pending a just and durable solution to their situation.”

More than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled their lands between April and August 1948. Israel, UN These people and their descendants have refugee status. The UNRWA became the sole international guarantor of its status.

The company operates not only in the Palestinian territories, but also in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

About 5.9 million Palestinians are registered UNRWA AFP notes that they can benefit from services such as education, health, camp infrastructure, funding and even emergency aid during armed conflicts.

The agency runs about 60 refugee camps, 19 of which are in the occupied West Bank.

More than 540,000 children attend the schools UNRWA.

In Gaza Strip 2.4 million Palestinians live, 1.7 million of whom have status Refugees. Until the war began on October 7, 63% of its citizens faced food insecurity and relied on international aid, and more than 80% lived in poverty, according to the UN.

Employs 30,000 people UNRWAAbout 13,000 people work in the Gaza Strip, according to the company's website.