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Rabat – The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urgently called on governments to reconsider their suspension of funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).
The plea comes as Austria joined a large list of countries, including the US, Britain, Germany, Canada, and Australia, that have decided to withhold financial support for UNRWA, pending an investigation into allegations of the agency’s involvement in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
The UN posted today on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, stating, “Antonio Guterres strongly appeals to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA operations.”
“Two million civilians in Gaza depend on critical aid from UNRWA,” the statement stressed.
Austria’s decision to suspend payments was based on accusations that UNRWA employees played a role in the Hamas attack.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry released a statement on Monday urging the UN and UNRWA to conduct a “comprehensive, swift, and thorough” investigation into the allegations.
“Until these allegations are fully clarified, and there is clarity about the resulting consequences, Austria, in coordination with international partners, will temporarily suspend all further payments to UNRWA,” added the statement.
Austria’s decision comes after several other governments decided to pause funding to UNRWA, a crucial lifeline for the beleaguered population in Gaza witnessing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
The development follows intensified efforts by a coalition of Israeli lawmakers to halt global funding for UNRWA. The group, led by Knesset member Sharren Haskel, alleged that UNRWA serves as a tool for Hamas.
The parliamentary lobby aimed to challenge the flow of funds from various countries, claiming it is seeking to “remove UNRWA’s mask.”
The Israeli newspaper Hayom reported that the coalition is pushing for a reevaluation of the agency’s role.
UNRWA operates as the largest aid organization in Gaza, where two million displaced Palestinians face increasingly dire conditions marked by severe shortages of food, shelter, and medicine, as well as the rapid spread of diseases and infections.
The Israeli Occupation Forces have claimed the lives of more than 26,000 Palestinian citizens and injured tens of thousands of others.
