Western Nations Pull Funding from UNRWA

The United Nations (UN) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has compelled several nations to resume their vital aid donations amidst a public relations disaster.

The agency is one of the last international organisations that is able to operate in Gaza, providing life-saving humanitarian aid to roughly two million people in the war-torn country.

On Friday, 26 January, Israel released the bombshell accusation that 12 UNRWA staff members were involved in the Hamas attack on 7 October.

The allegations were levelled on the same day that the UN International Court of Justice ruled in favour of South Africa’s case of genocide that had been laid against Israel for responding to the attack.

The UN quickly reacted to the allegations, announcing the following day that they had terminated nine of the 12 staff members, and that they would be launching an investigation into the matter.

However, several Western countries – including the United States of America and Germany, who contributed nearly $550 million in total in 2022 alone – immediately ceased funding to the organisation.

Israel has previously accused the UN of favouritism, bias, and antisemitism, with the latest allegations only further widening the divide.

Image Credit: Source