The UK has temporarily paused funding to the UN’s relief agency in Gaza amid claims that several of its employees were involved in the October 7 terror attack.
The Foreign Office announced it would halt future funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) pending a review of the ‘concerning allegations’.
On Friday the UNRWA said it had dismissed ‘several’ employees after Israel accused 12 members of staff of being involved in the Hamas attack.
It comes after the US, Italy, Australia and Canada all decided to suspend funding to the agency.
The UK will temporarily halt funding to the UN relief agency after several of its employees were accused of being involved in the October 7 attacks on Israel
Pictured: Palestinians fleeing Khan Younis move towards Rafah amid the ongoing conflict
Pictured: Palestinians move past Israeli tanks after residents of Khan Younis were told to leave their homes
A statement from the Foreign Office said it was ‘appalled’ by the allegations but remained ‘committed’ to getting humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The US Department of State said it was ‘extremely troubled’ by the claims and called for ‘complete accountability’ for those involved in the October 7 attacks.
Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of the UNRWA said that the agency had made the decision to sack staff members in order to be able to continue to deliver humanitarian assistance, and said that employees involved in terror acts would face criminal prosecution.
The UNRWA was established in 1949 following the first Arab-Israeli war to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees.
It has repeatedly warned that its ability to provide relief to the people of Gaza is collapsing.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk