The Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, has expressed serious concerns about the negative consequences of incitement against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This incitement has led to some countries deciding to halt their funding to the agency. The Arab League highlighted the grave implications of a campaign against UNRWA, particularly following Israel’s claim that seven UNRWA employees were involved in the attacks on October 7th.
Aboul Gheit criticized the decision by significant Western countries to suspend their financial contributions to UNRWA at such a critical time, based on unverified accusations targeting a limited number of individuals. He argued that these accusations, even if true, do not reflect the nature of the organization, which employs around 300,000 people, the majority of whom are Palestinians.
This campaign against UNRWA is not new, according to Aboul Gheit, who pointed out that there have been various attempts over the years to end the agency’s operations, which assist millions of Palestinian refugees across its five operational areas. He stated that the campaign’s objective is to force the international community to abandon its responsibilities towards Palestinian refugees and shift the entire burden onto countries sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, especially Arab states.
Additionally, the Hamas movement criticized UNRWA’s decision to terminate the contracts of several of its employees in Gaza based on Israeli allegations regarding their involvement in the October 7th events. The Palestinian presidency also condemned the unjust campaign led by the Israeli government against UNRWA, viewing it as an attempt to eliminate the Palestinian refugee issue.
Several Western countries have suspended their funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) following allegations that a few of the agency’s staff were involved in the October 7th terror attacks in southern Israel. The countries that have halted their financial support include the United States, Australia, Canada, Italy, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Scotland. This decision has raised concerns about the potential impact on UNRWA’s humanitarian programs, particularly in Gaza, where the agency plays a crucial role in providing assistance to the Palestinian population.
The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, has expressed shock at the funding suspension, emphasizing the critical nature of the agency’s work in the region, especially given the current war, displacement, and political crises. He has called on the countries that suspended funding to reconsider their decisions, warning that the lives of people in Gaza and regional stability depend on this support. Lazzarini highlighted the agency’s immediate response to the allegations, including the termination of the staffers’ contracts involved and the initiation of a transparent independent investigation to establish the facts.
