An Israeli tank stands amid the rubble as Palestinians fleeing Khan Younis, due to the Israeli ground operation, move towards Rafah, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in the southern Gaza Strip, January 27, 2024. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
On Sunday, United Nations officials called upon nations to reconsider the suspension of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), emphasizing the commitment to discipline any personnel implicated in Hamas’ attack on Israel. The pause in funding by at least nine countries, including major contributors such as the United States and Germany, ensued from Israeli allegations that twelve out of 13,000 UNRWA staff members in Gaza were involved in the October 7 incident.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed understanding for the concerns prompting the funding suspension, acknowledging the severity of the accusations. Despite this, he fervently appealed to the governments involved to ensure the continuity of UNRWA’s operations. Guterres vowed to hold accountable any U.N. employee found involved in acts of terror, potentially including criminal prosecution, a measure rarely employed due to the functional immunity generally enjoyed by staff.
Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, urged nations to reconsider their funding decisions before the agency is compelled to suspend its humanitarian response. A U.N. investigation is presently underway to assess the veracity of Israeli allegations.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has resulted in more than 26,000 casualties, according to the enclave’s health ministry. With a significant reduction in aid inflows, essential supplies such as food and medicine have become scarce, leading to a rise in preventable diseases and the imminent risk of famine, as indicated by aid officials.
Since the October 7 attacks, which claimed 1,200 lives in Israel, a considerable portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has become increasingly reliant on UNRWA’s assistance. Approximately one million individuals, seeking refuge from Israeli bombardments, are sheltering in UNRWA facilities.
Israel’s U.N. Ambassador, Gilad Erdan, responded to Guterres’ appeal by calling on donor states to suspend their support and demand an exhaustive investigation into the alleged involvement of all UNRWA employees in acts of terror. He criticized Guterres, asserting that the appeal for continued funding underscored a lack of prioritization for the security of Israeli citizens.
Observers and aid workers raised concerns about the repercussions of donor states’ suspension of funding, emphasizing the potential exacerbation of hunger. Jan Egeland, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, implored donors not to subject children to deprivation for the actions of a few aid workers.
Michael Fakhri, a U.N.-appointed expert on the right to food, cautioned that the funding cuts made famine in Gaza “inevitable.” Even before the recent conflict, UNRWA faced financial challenges, with warnings of imminent collapse. The organization’s staff, comprising many refugees themselves, has faced significant risks, with at least 150 reported casualties since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Expressions of anger and disappointment emerged from Palestinians affected by the funding cuts, with accusations of complicity in a war of deprivation and collective punishment. Foreign officials, including the Egyptian foreign minister and the Turkish Foreign Ministry, voiced surprise and urged reconsideration of the funding pause, anticipating heightened suffering for Palestinians.
UNRWA has long faced criticism from Israel, which alleges its support for Hamas, an accusation vehemently denied by the agency. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of orchestrating an oppressive campaign against UNRWA, aiming to eradicate the issue of Palestinian refugees.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri interpreted the Israeli accusations against UNRWA as a challenge to the International Court of Justice’s recent decision ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel, as of yet, has not publicly disclosed details regarding the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the October 7 attack.
Despite the U.N.’s call to reinstate aid, there is no immediate indication that countries are heeding the appeal. However, Norway and Ireland have affirmed their commitment to continue funding the agency. Israel has been vocal in its criticism of the United Nations and Secretary-General Guterres, accusing him of insufficient condemnation of Hamas and proximity to Iran since the early stages of the conflict.
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