“France has no plans for brand spanking new funds for the primary half of 2024 and can determine sooner or later, along with the United Nations and main donors, what steps to take,” the overseas ministry stated, calling the allegations “extraordinarily critical.”
On Friday, UNRWA stated it had fired a number of employees over unnamed Israeli allegations that a few of its employees have been concerned within the October 7 assault by Hamas.
Over the weekend, donor nations together with Germany, the UK, Italy, Australia and Finland adopted the lead of the USA and stated that they had suspended further funding to the company over the allegations.
On Sunday, UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres referred to as on donor international locations to make sure the stream of support to the Gaza Strip following a number of of them suspended funding to the UN company.
Israel’s International Minister Israel Katz has referred to as on UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini to resign following beforehand saying that the company “have to be changed by businesses that search actual peace and growth” following the bloodiest battle within the Gaza Strip.
“Mr. Lazzarini, please resign,” Katz wrote on X late Saturday in response to a submit by the UNRWA chief warning that funding cuts meant the company’s operation within the Gaza Strip was near collapse.
Guterres stated the “heinous alleged actions” of some UNRWA staff mustn’t imply that 1000’s of different UNRWA support staff ought to be punished.
Guterres confirmed that 12 UNRWA staff are named within the allegations, which the UN is investigating.
9 of them have been fired, one is lifeless and “the id of the opposite two is being investigated,” he stated.
Israel’s UN envoy attacked Guterres on Sunday, saying the UN chief had repeatedly ignored “proof” introduced to him regarding UNRWA’s involvement in “incitement and terrorism”.
“Any nation that continues to fund UNRWA till there’s a thorough investigation of the group ought to be conscious that its cash shall be used for terrorism, and support that goes to UNRWA might attain Hamas terrorists as a substitute of the folks of Gaza,” Israel’s Gilad Erdan stated in a press release launched by the Ministry of International Affairs.
On Saturday, Hamas condemned Israel’s statements on UNRWA and referred to as on the UN and different worldwide organizations “to not give in to threats and blackmail”.
About 1,140 folks, largely civilians, have been killed in an assault on Israel by Hamas on October 7, in keeping with official figures from the AFP information company.
The militants additionally took regarding 250 hostages, and Israel says regarding 132 stay within the Gaza Strip, together with the our bodies of at the least 28 lifeless captives.
A minimum of 26,422 folks, largely girls and youngsters, have been killed within the Israeli navy offensive within the Gaza Strip, in keeping with the Hamas-ruled territory’s Ministry of Well being.
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2024-06-03 23:40:57
