By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL-In the wake of the controversy about the U.N. agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), more countries have decided to withdraw their funding for the organization that is a lifeline to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Ever since Israel came out with a report claiming evidence that at least 12 UNRWA employees were involved with Hamas in abducting hostages, massive funding withdrawals have been pouring in worldwide. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged countries not to withdraw funding while other NGO heads have stressed that there are 30,000 employees at UNRWA that will suffer just because 12 of those employees are guilty. On a positive note, the European Union said it will not withdraw its funding, pending the outcome of an internal investigation that is underway. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the report that Israel makes claims for, is “highly credible.” But the UNRWA said it’s “extremely desperate” for funding and that the “humanitarian needs in Gaza are growing by the hour.” Israel’s Prime Minister has accused the organization of being “perforated with Hamas” after releasing an Israeli intelligence dossier alleging close to 200 UNRWA workers are Hamas or Islamic Jihad operatives but they haven’t provided detailed evidence.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, 20 aid organizations that include the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and Save The Children in a joint statement said that the role of UNRWA in Gaza is irreplaceable and that “the population faces starvation, looming famine and an outbreak of disease.” Kenneth Roth, an executive of Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on X: “The European Union will NOT suspend funding to UNRWA. It will await the results of the investigation that UNRWA announced.” Doctors Without Borders also weighed in, with their statement: “any additional limitations on aid will result in more deaths and suffering.” They added that such moves contradict the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
