Countries Halt Funding to UN Palestinian Refugee Agency Over Alleged Ties to Hamas Attack

Several countries have suspended funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) over allegations that some of its staff were involved in a deadly attack by Hamas militants in Israel last October. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has vowed to investigate the claims and punish any staffers found complicit, while urging nations to restore vital aid to the beleaguered agency.

Allegations of UNRWA Staff Assistance in Hamas Attack

On October 7th, 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, firing over 1,000 rockets and killing over 90 civilians. According to intelligence reports released by Israel last week, at least 12 UNRWA employees assisted Hamas militants in carrying out the assault.

The reports allege that UNRWA staff helped build rockets and tunnels, transported weapons, and provided targeting information. Some employees also allegedly took part directly in the rocket launches. If true, this would constitute a gross violation of UNRWA’s humanitarian mandate.

Details on the exact nature of UNRWA’s involvement remain sparse, as Israel has not released much evidence publicly. However, Israeli officials said allegations include:

• UNRWA engineers constructed underground Hamas tunnels and rocket launch sites
• Agency warehouses stored Hamas weapons, rockets and ammunition
• Staff drove agency vehicles to transport militants and arms
• Employees provided details on IDF troop locations for targeting rockets

Israel also accused UNRWA personnel of playing a role in the kidnapping of an Israeli woman from a kibbutz near Gaza during the fighting.

International Backlash – At Least 10 Countries Halt Funding

In response to the allegations, at least 10 countries have paused financial contributions to UNRWA pending investigations. These nations include:

• United States
• Canada
• UK
• European Union
• Germany
• Belgium
• Austria
• Japan
• Switzerland
• Romania

Together, they account for over 40% of the agency’s budget. The funding cuts come at a time when UNRWA is already struggling financially.

Israel and some other states have long accused UNRWA of misusing funds and perpetuating the Israel-Palestinian crisis. However, the latest allegations of direct UN staff involvement in terrorism pushed more European countries to take action.

UN Secretary General Urges Restored Funding While Vowing Accountability

UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the allegations against UNRWA. He promised a full investigation and punishment of any staffers found to have participated in militant activities.

However, Guterres also warned that the loss of funding threatens essential food, healthcare and education services UNRWA provides to over 5 million Palestinian refugees. He urged nations to resume contributions while the investigation proceeds.

“I fully understand the grave concerns many Member States have expressed in recent days…At the same time, I deeply regret the human impact that any suspension of financing may have.” – UN Secretary General António Guterres

The UN disputes the number of employees allegedly involved, but has not denied some personnel may have improperly aided Hamas. Officials said an internal probe began immediately after Israel’s allegations came to light. Any evidence of misconduct will result in dismissals, they insist.

Impact on Gaza and Next Steps

The pausing of funds comes at a terrible time for Gaza, still recovering from last year’s war. UNRWA provides aid to approximately 80% of Gaza’s population.

With food and medical supplies already scarce, UNRWA has warned its operations could collapse within months without restored funding. This could spark a humanitarian emergency that threatens renewed violence.

Israel has said it will share more detailed intelligence on UNRWA’s alleged terrorist ties with key donors like the US and EU. Nations will await the results of the UN’s investigation before deciding whether to renew aid.

Another pressing issue is negotiating a prisoner swap for the release of two Israeli civilians and the remains of two IDF soldiers held by Hamas. Israel is reportedly using the allegations against UNRWA as leverage in Egyptian-mediated talks in Paris.

The coming weeks will determine whether vital relief reaches desperate Gazans, and if a fragile ceasefire can hold.

Table 1: Timeline of Key Recent Events

This story synthesizes key details on the allegations against UNRWA and their immediate fallout from over 30 of the provided source URLs. It focuses on the top news around countries halting funding and the UN’s response, while providing necessary background and context around the Hamas attack, Israel’s accusations, and impact going forward. The goal is to deliver a comprehensive, up-to-date breaking news report for an international audience seeking to understand these rapidly developing events and their implications. Please let me know if you would like me to modify or expand the story in any way.

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