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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather in Washington, DC
With the death toll ever increasing in Gaza, protesters took to the streets of Washington, DC, to show their displeasure both with Israel’s military offensive — and US support for it.
Chants of “Free, free, free Palestine” broke out in front of the US Capitol, as the protesters denounced an impending address from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
US State Department criticises Israel’s ‘terror’ label for UNRWA
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller defended the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) at a news briefing on Wednesday.
Miller was asked about the Israeli parliament’s recent decision to give preliminary approval to a measure that would label UNRWA a “terrorist” organisation.
“First, UNRWA is not a terrorist organisation, and we urge the Israeli government and the Knesset to halt the movement of this legislation,” Miller responded. “We have been clear about the important role that UNRWA plays in delivering humanitarian assistance and other critical assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and throughout the region.”
Some Israeli officials have accused the relief agency of ties to the Palestinian group Hamas — and the US itself suspended aid to UNRWA pending a United Nations investigation into the allegations.
But independent reviews have found no evidence to substantiate the allegations that UNRWA employees were involved with Hamas, and Miller said that the US continues to offer support to the agency — albeit through roundabout means, like third parties.
That’s because the US Congress has suspended aid to UNRWA through March 2025.
“The attacks that the Israeli government has levelled on UNRWA are incredibly unhelpful,” Miller added.
