The Israeli Foreign Ministry criticized the European Union’s decision to resume some funding to UNRWA after it had been frozen due to claims from Tel Aviv that some agency employees participated in an October 7 attack on Israel. The ministry expressed disappointment, stating that the decision legitimizes the involvement of UNRWA employees in terrorist activities and their collaboration with Hamas. It also noted that the EU’s decision reopens the investigation into Israeli allegations of UNRWA’s bias, promising to provide all available information to donor countries and UN investigators in the coming weeks. Israel affirmed its commitment to transferring humanitarian aid to Gaza and collaborating with other UN agencies to ensure the distribution of aid in the region.
The European Commission announced that it had decided to grant UNRWA 50 million euros after considering the UN’s actions and commitments requested by the Commission from UNRWA. An additional 32 million euros remain withheld pending the completion of steps outlined by the EU, including investigations and a European review.
Several Western countries, including the US, UK, Germany, and Canada, had previously announced the suspension of funding to UNRWA following suspicions that some agency employees were involved in a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini announced the dismissal of several employees related to these accusations.
The recent tensions between Israel and UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) have escalated due to allegations from Israeli intelligence claiming involvement of UNRWA staff in activities associated with the October 7 attack on Israel. According to these allegations, some 190 UNRWA employees, including teachers, have been accused of being affiliated with Hamas or Islamic Jihad fighters. This has led to a suspension of funds from several countries, significantly impacting UNRWA’s operations and its ability to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees.
Israel has had longstanding issues with UNRWA, accusing the agency of facilitating Hamas activities by allegedly using its facilities to store weapons and launch attacks. UNRWA, on its part, maintains that it does not knowingly tolerate such behavior and has internal safeguards to prevent abuses. The recent funding suspensions by countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and others have deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where UNRWA’s support is critical for the survival of many Palestinians.
The backdrop to these tensions includes the broader historical and political context where Israel has sought to challenge the legitimacy and operations of UNRWA, linking it to the broader conflict over the right of Palestinian refugees to return home. The decision to target UNRWA has been seen by some as an effort to undermine the Palestinian refugee issue and their rights.
