Israel vows to stop UNRWA’s activities in Gaza after war following sacking of staff
- The UN agency for Palestinian refugees has fired several staff over Israel’s accusations they were involved in the October 7 attack
- Donors including Australia, Canada, Italy and the UK have followed the lead of the US, which said on Friday it had suspended additional funding to the agency
Israel vowed Saturday to stop the UN agency at the heart of humanitarian efforts in Gaza from operating after the war following the sacking of staff over accusations they were involved in the October 7 attack.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on Friday it had fired several staff over Israel’s accusations, promising a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified.
Donors including Australia, Canada, Italy and Britain have followed the lead of the United States, which said on Friday it had suspended additional funding to the agency over the accusations.
“UNRWA will not be a part of the day after,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X, formerly Twitter, adding that he was trying to gather support from the United States, European Union and other major donors to the agency.
Hamas on Saturday slammed Israeli “threats” against UNRWA, urging the United Nations and other international organisations not to “cave in to the threats and blackmail”.
Relations between Israel and UNRWA have deteriorated in recent days, with the UN agency saying tank shelling had hit a shelter for displaced people in Gaza’s main southern city of Khan Younis.