Irish FM accuses Israel of deliberate attempt to undermine UNRWA: Report
Ireland’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister Micheal Martin has accused Israel of deliberately undermining the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in a bid to remove “the right to return” for Palestinians.
Martin said by attempting to “remove UNRWA”, Israeli had hoped to “essentially remove the right to return” for Palestinian refugees, Ireland’s state broadcaster RTE reports. UNRWA collectively recognises millions of displaced Palestinians who have a right to eventually return to their occupied land as stipulated under UN Resolution 194.
Martin, who is in Egypt and will visit the Gaza border crossing at Rafah, said Ireland’s decision to increase funding to UNRWA – despite the Israeli allegations that 12 staff had taken part in the October 7 attack – was now vindicated.
“We took an opposite view to most countries, we actually increased our aid at that time, and I’m hoping now as a result of the publication of this report that some countries who have paused their support will now allow their support,” he said.
Finland reiterates support for UNWRA following independent probe
Finland says it supports UNRWA activities in war-ravaged Gaza. The statement comes after an independent review found Israel provided “no evidence” of any wrongdoing by staff of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
“10% of our UNRWA support is now earmarked for risk management to prevent abuses,” the country’s Foreign Ministry posted on X.
Ville Tavio, Finland’s minister for development cooperation and foreign trade, met with Heli Uusikyla of UNRWA’s Gaza office, who visited the Finnish capital, Helsinki, it said.
EU humanitarian chief urges countries to restore UNRWA funding
“I call on the donors to support UNRWA – the Palestinian refugees’ lifeline,” Janez Lenarcic, the European commissioner for crisis management, has said on X.
The plea comes after an independent review said yesterday Israel had provided “no evidence” of any wrongdoing by staff of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. The EU official said he welcomed the agency’s “significant number of compliance systems in place as well as recommendations for their further upgrade”.
Israel in January made the allegation that some UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 attacks, which led to numerous donor states suspending or pausing some $450m in funding. Many have since resumed funding while others – including the US, the largest donor – have not.
The review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna found that “Israel has yet to provide supporting evidence” for its claims.
Norway urges donors to resume funding for UNRWA
Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide has said that UNRWA is the lifeline for the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza, calling on “countries that have still frozen their contributions to UNRWA to resume funding”.
“The situation is catastrophic. Gaza is in ruins. The population lacks everything, and many are starving. UNRWA’s presence is also crucial for other humanitarian organisations’ efforts in Gaza,” he said in a statement.
“UNRWA is much more than a humanitarian organisation. Mandated by the UN General Assembly, UNRWA is the international community’s commitment to Palestine refugees and their rights.”
UNRWA review discredits Israeli claims: Jordan’s top diplomat
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi has said the independent investigation into the UN agency for Palestinian refugees “totally discredits Israel’s false accusations”.
“It confirms the agency’s neutrality and professionalism, and asserts it is indispensable, irreplaceable. UNRWA’s noble role must be supported. The agency must be protected from the Israeli conspiracy against it,” he said on X.
The review, from the former French foreign minister, found that Israel has not backed up claims it made against the refugee agency operating in Gaza.
UNRWA’s Lazzarini blasts ‘blatant disregard’ of agency’s premises, staff in Gaza
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says attacks on the agency are primarily based on the “objective to strip the Palestinians” of their status as refugees.
“This is the reason why there are pushes today for UNRWA not to be present anymore in Gaza, but … we are also under pressure when it comes to [operations] in Jerusalem and the West Bank,” Lazzarini said at a news conference.
Lazzarini called on members of the UN Security Council for an independent investigation on the “blatant disregard … of UN premises, UN staff and UN operations in the Gaza Strip”, noting that about 180 UNRWA employees have been killed in the Strip since October 7.
UNRWA’s Lazzarini says working on ‘response plan’ after Colonna’s report
Lazzarini has welcomed the results of an independent review on the agency that were announced on Monday.
The review on the neutrality of UNRWA, headed by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, was ordered after allegations made by Israel in January that some of the agency’s staff may have participated in the October 7 Hamas attacks. The report noted that Israel had yet to provide evidence for its allegations that some UNRWA staff were members of “terrorist” groups.
Lazzarini told reporters “we are committed” to implementing the report’s recommendations.
The agency already has a number of mechanisms “to deal with neutrality issues, far ahead than other UN agencies”, UNRWA’s commissioner-general said. “We need to be extremely vigilant, and we can always do more,” he added.
Lazzarini said his team is now working on a “response plan” to ensure “partners are aware” of the measures being taken in line with the report’s recommendations.
