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SvennoJ on 27 January 2024
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Unbelievable, Israel just has to point the finger at a couple UNWRA workers and sanctions follow

UK and Finland join other nations in pausing funding to main UN agency in Gaza

The United Kingdom and Finland on Saturday announced they are temporarily pausing funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after allegations that 12 staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas in Israel.

The United States, Australia, Canada and Italy have already announced they are suspending funding.

In a statement shared with CNN, the UK foreign office said it was "appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned."

Hamas condemns Israeli "threats": Hamas said in an official statement released Saturday that it condemns Israel's "threats and blackmail" against the UNRWA. The group criticized the relief agency's decision to fire the accused employees in Gaza and called for an "impartial investigation" into Israel's allegations.

Hamas also slammed a claim made by Israel's UN ambassador that the World Health Organization is in “collusion” with the Hamas movement, calling that a "hollow accusation," and stressing the importance of these agencies in providing aid in the besieged enclave.

Unbelievable double standards on display

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/24466-finland-goes-ahead-with-controversial-arms-deal-despite-ongoing-killing-and-siege-of-palestinians-by-israel.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-signs-landmark-deal-to-sell-davids-sling-air-defense-system-to-finland/

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canada-should-halt-weapons-shipments-to-israel-arms-control-advocate/
https://www.cjpme.org/pr_2023_06_12_arms_exports

https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/12/letter-uk-government-calling-immediate-halt-uk-arms-transfers-government-israel

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-15/australia-defence-weapons-exports-israel-hamas-war/103072608


The Netherlands just joined as well

Netherlands suspends UNRWA assistance

The Netherlands has become the latest country to suspend assistance to UNRWA, according to Dutch media reports and the news outlet Reuters. Dutch News reported that a spokesperson for aid minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen confirmed the decision.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/dutch-shipments-f-35-fighter-jet-parts-israel-can-continue-court-says-2023-12-15/




Masterful move by Israel to bring these allegations during the ICJ court ruling, misdirection at its finest

Israel lauds aid suspensions, says UNRWA must be ‘replaced’

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has celebrated the decision of several Western countries to suspend aid to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency at a time when it is struggling to assist hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced in Gaza, saying that the agency must be “replaced”. The agency has been a target of Israeli ire for years.

“The US, Canada, Finland, Australia, Italy, and the UK have stopped funding UNRWA due to staff involvement in the October 7 massacre. I call for more nations to join in,” Katz said in a social media post.

“UNRWA’s ties with Hamas, providing refuge for terrorists, and perpetuating its rule are undeniable. The leadership of UNRWA should be dismissed and thoroughly investigated for their knowledge of these activities. In Gaza’s rebuilding, UNRWA must be replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development.”


UNWRA has 13,000 workers inside Gaza that are doing everything they can to limit the damage of the rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis.


PLO calls on countries pausing UNRWA funding to "retract their decision"

The Palestine Liberation Organization called on countries halting support for the main United Nations agency in Gaza to “immediately retract their decision.” The US, Canada, Australia and Italy each announced they have paused funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) following allegations that some of its staff members were involved in the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas in Israel.

“We call on the countries that announced the cessation of their support for UNRWA to immediately retract their decision,” Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Hussein Al-Sheikh said in a statement Saturday. “In light of the continuing conflict and aggression against the Palestinian people,” Al-Sheikh wrote, the decision to drop funding “entails great political and relief risks.”

“This organization must be supported and not stopped from being supported and assisted by the international community,” he said.

Ireland, Norway express continued support for UNRWA

While other western nations cut aid to UNRWA, Ireland and Norway have both expressed continued support, stating that the agency is doing crucial work to help Palestinians displaced and in desperate need of assistance in Gaza.

“Full confidence in Philippe Lazzarini ‘s decision to immediately suspend UNRWA staff suspected of participation in the heinous a tacks of October 7, to investigate thoroughly and show zero tolerance on terror. Ireland has no plans to suspend funding for UNRWA’s vital Gaza work,” Irish foreign affair minister Micheal Martin said in a social media post, noting that more than 100 UNRWA workers have been killed since the start of the war.

“The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and UNRWA is the most important humanitarian organization there,” Norway’s representative office to the Palestinian Authority said in a social media post. “Norway continues our support for the Palestinian people through UNRWA. International support for Palestine is needed now more than ever.”

Last edited by SvennoJ - on 27 January 2024