Nations Halt UNRWA Aid Over Oct. 7 Allegations

In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, which resulted in the largest single loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, an increasing number of Western nations have decided to suspend aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees.

Allegations came to light recently implicating a dozen UNRWA staff members in the attacks that claimed approximately 1,200 lives, reported The Wall Street Journal.

On Saturday, the United Kingdom, Finland, and Italy joined the ranks of countries halting funding to UNRWA, a day after the agency acknowledged investigating information provided by Israel’s government regarding its staff’s alleged involvement in the attacks. The United States, Canada, and Australia had already announced on Friday their decision to suspend aid pending a thorough investigation.

“The U.K. is appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the Oct. 7 attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the U.K. government has repeatedly condemned,” stated the U.K. Foreign Office.

Despite the funding suspension, Britain remains committed to delivering aid to Gaza.

While the European Union, a significant donor to UNRWA, expressed extreme concern over the allegations, it has not yet declared a freeze on aid.

The timing of the funding suspension is critical for UNRWA, which has been the primary channel for aid entering Gaza during the ongoing conflict initiated by Israel in response to the Oct. 7 attacks. According to Palestinian authorities, the war has claimed more than 25,000 lives, with the majority being women and children, though these figures do not differentiate between combatants and civilians.

These allegations mark the latest scandal for UNRWA, responsible for overseeing aid to over 5 million Palestinian refugees across the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Long-standing accusations of pro-Palestinian bias by U.S. Republicans and Israeli politicians have shadowed the agency. Israel has previously accused individual UNRWA staff members of ties to Hamas, designated a terrorist group by the U.S. and Europe.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz asserted that UNRWA should be removed from postwar Gaza, advocating for the dismissal of its leadership and an independent investigation into its activities. Katz contends that many UNRWA employees are Hamas members, aiding the organization in concealing terrorist activities.

UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini, responding to the allegations, announced the termination of contracts for those implicated, promising accountability, including potential criminal prosecution. However, the agency has not provided an immediate response to the additional funding freezes.

Hamas, in a post on Telegram, criticized UNRWA for suspending or firing employees accused by Israel, accusing the agency of succumbing to blackmail by countries supporting what it referred to as “Zionist terrorism.”

The United States holds the title of UNRWA’s largest contributor, providing $344 million in 2022. Other major donors include the U.K. ($21 million), Italy ($18 million), Canada ($24 million), Australia ($14 million), and Finland ($8 million). In 2022, UNRWA received a total funding of $1.17 billion.

The impact of the funding freezes on UNRWA’s operations remains uncertain, with Australia pausing $6 million in new emergency assistance announced after the outbreak of the conflict, as reported by Australian media.