The EU Urges Donors to Resume Funding for Gaza’s Largest UN Agency Amidst Accusations Against Israel

The EU has called on international donors to resume funding to Gaza’s largest UN agency. The US says it will not restart its aid until UNRWA makes “real progress”. UNRWA, which provides healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid to Palestinians, employs 13,000 people in Gaza. EU humanitarian chief Janez Lenarcic welcomed Monday’s report for “underlining the agency’s significant number of compliance systems in place as well as recommendations for their further upgrade”. He called on donor nations to support UNRWA, describing it as “the Palestinian refugees’ lifeline”. This was echoed by Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, who hailed countries including Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Japan, and Sweden for already resuming their funding. The US, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, and Lithuania have not yet done so.

“In terms of our funding of UNRWA, that is still suspended,” White House security spokesman John Kirby said on Tuesday. “We’re gonna have to see real progress here before that gets changed.” The deputy spokesman of the US State Department, Vedant Patel, said the government was looking closely at the report, adding “we of course continue to support UNRWA’s important work, and it must continue”.

Israel has accused more than 2,135 of the agency’s staff of being members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad – proscribed terror organizations in Israel, the UK, US, and other countries. But the UN’s independent review, led by a former French foreign minister, said Israel was yet to provide “supporting evidence” for this claim. The agency insists it carries out detailed reference checks on all employees and shares staff lists with Israel. Israeli authorities suggest the report ignores the severity of the problem and claim UNRWA has systematic links to Hamas.

The EU’s plea came as the US humanitarian envoy to Gaza, David Satterfield, repeated warnings that the risk of famine throughout the Palestinian territory – especially in the north – was very high. Around 500 trucks of aid were previously entering Gaza each day, but the figure collapsed following the start of the war. Israel has also been accused of slowing deliveries by subjecting trucks to complex and arbitrary checks, and last month the UN’s top court ordered it to enable the unhindered flow of aid into Gaza. Israel has pledged to gradually increase aid back to pre-war levels, and UNRWA figures show that on Monday, 316 trucks entered Gaza, the highest number since the war began. The average over the previous seven days, however, was 190.

Mr. Satterfield said Israel needed to do everything possible to stop a famine and called on more to be done to deliver aid to those in need. So far, more than 34,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – have been killed during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. A separate UN investigation is looking at Israeli allegations that 12 UNRWA staff took part in the 7 October attacks on Israel, which saw around 1,200 people killed and regarding 250 taken hostage. UNRWA fired 10 of the 12 accused staff members who were still alive in the wake of the allegations.

Analyzing the implications of these events, it becomes clear that Gaza’s largest UN agency, UNRWA, plays a crucial role in providing essential services to Palestinians. The suspension of funding from major donors such as the US and the UK has had a significant impact on UNRWA’s ability to carry out its humanitarian mission. The EU’s call for international donors to resume funding highlights the urgent need to support UNRWA and ensure the continuation of vital healthcare, education, and humanitarian aid programs.

The accusations made by Israel once morest UNRWA staff members, linking them to terror organizations, have been challenged by an independent UN review. The lack of supporting evidence has raised questions regarding the validity of these accusations and calls for a fair and transparent investigation. It is crucial to ensure that aid organizations such as UNRWA are not unjustly targeted, as their work is essential for the well-being of Palestinian refugees.

The risk of famine in Gaza is a pressing concern that needs to be addressed promptly. The collapse of aid deliveries and the arbitrary checks imposed by Israel have further exacerbated the situation. The international community must make every effort to ensure the unhindered flow of aid into Gaza to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

Looking forward, it is essential for donor nations to reconsider their funding decisions and resume support for UNRWA. The continuation of vital services and aid programs is crucial for the well-being and survival of Palestinian refugees. Additionally, efforts should be made to address the underlying causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and seek a peaceful resolution that ensures the rights and dignity of all parties involved.

As the world grapples with ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises, the importance of organizations like UNRWA cannot be understated. The future trends in this field will depend greatly on the political will and commitment of the international community to support and protect the rights of vulnerable populations. It is imperative to prioritize and invest in humanitarian efforts that alleviate suffering and promote peace and justice for all.