Allegations of UN Agency Staff Involvement in Hamas Attacks Prompt U.S. Funding Pause

[Social Media]

 

The United States has announced a temporary suspension of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) following allegations that some of its staff members were linked to the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. The decision comes after Israeli officials notified UNRWA that up to 12 of its employees were allegedly involved in the attacks that resulted in numerous casualties.

 

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini expressed shock at the accusations and swiftly took action by terminating the contracts of the implicated staff members. He emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough investigation to determine the truth behind the allegations, stating, "Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution."

 

To address the gravity of the situation, the United States has decided to pause additional funding to UNRWA while a review is conducted on the allegations and the measures taken by the United Nations to address them. Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed concerns over the allegations to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, emphasizing the need for a speedy and comprehensive investigation.

 

While the specific details of the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the Hamas attack remain undisclosed, both the State Department and UNRWA have welcomed the prospect of a full investigation. The State Department has reached out to the government of Israel to gather more information about the allegations and has briefed members of Congress on the matter.

 

The October 7 attacks by Hamas militants led to a significant loss of life and the kidnapping of over 200 people in the Gaza Strip. UNRWA, established in 1949 to provide humanitarian aid to registered Palestine refugees, condemned the attacks and called for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli hostages. Lazzarini pledged to ensure accountability for anyone found to have participated in the heinous attacks.

 

As the U.S. temporarily withholds funding pending the investigation's outcome, the international community watches closely, emphasizing the importance of a transparent and impartial inquiry to address these serious allegations.

 

27.01.24

Source

 

[Bkk Brian]

Canada has joined the US and suspended funding. 

 

Canada pauses funding to UN relief agency over workers' possible role in Oct. 7 attack on Israel

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday it had opened an investigation into several employees suspected of involvement in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel by Hamas-led militants and that it had severed ties with those staff members.

"The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on Oct. 7," said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner general.

"To protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/unrwa-israel-raids-investigations-1.7095676

[Bkk Brian]

UNRWA deputy chief @LeniStenseth went to Gaza in June 2021 to pledge allegiance to Hamas chief murderer and rapist Yahya Sinwar. To appease him, she fired her Gaza director Mathias Schmale for having said on TV that IDF strikes were precise, and she condemned his remarks.

 

June 2021: Hamas made UNRWA fire their Gaza rep for saying on TV that IDF strikes were precise. Then Deputy Chief @LeniStenseth met Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar and “affirmed her solidarity.” She called her rep’s remarks “indefensible.” 

 

https://twitter.com/UNWatch/status/1750933355846127811

 

[Bkk Brian]

Its gaining momentum, the US, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany have also suspended additional funding to the UN agency and now the UK.

 

UNRWA claims: UK halts aid to UN agency over allegation staff helped Hamas attack

The UK government said it was "appalled" by Israel's allegations.

The US, Australia, Italy, Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany have also suspended additional funding to the UN agency.

Created in 1949, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, is the biggest UN agency operating in Gaza.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68104203

[Bkk Brian]

Back on topic.................

 

Not sure why he's shocked at this. This is not the first time 

 

UNRWA chief urges countries to reconsider ‘shocking’ decision to pull funding

Commissioner-general of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini urges countries to reconsider their suspension of funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, saying that their decision threatens the “ongoing humanitarian work” in Gaza.

Lazzarini’s request comes after nine countries announced that they were pulling funding due to alleged involvement by several staff members in Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught in southern Israel.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/unrwa-chief-urges-countries-to-reconsider-shocking-decision-to-pull-funding/

[ozimoron]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

Back on topic.................

 

Not sure why he's shocked at this. This is not the first time 

 

UNRWA chief urges countries to reconsider ‘shocking’ decision to pull funding

Commissioner-general of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini urges countries to reconsider their suspension of funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, saying that their decision threatens the “ongoing humanitarian work” in Gaza.

Lazzarini’s request comes after nine countries announced that they were pulling funding due to alleged involvement by several staff members in Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught in southern Israel.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/unrwa-chief-urges-countries-to-reconsider-shocking-decision-to-pull-funding/

 

UNRWA acted against those involved. What more do you want. It's impossible for an international non political organisation not to include biases on both sides.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, ozimoron said:

 

UNRWA acted against those involved. What more do you want. It's impossible for an international non political organisation not to include biases on both sides.

I want the same as the nine countries who have pulled funding, a full and transparent investigation into the whole UNRWA operation in Gaza

[ozimoron]

1 minute ago, Bkk Brian said:

I want the same as the nine countries who have pulled funding, a full and transparent investigation into the whole UNRWA operation in Gaza

 

Why would you imagine there won't be. Do you have any evidence to conclude their won't be?

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

 

Why would you imagine there won't be. Do you have any evidence to conclude their won't be?

Where did I imagine there won't be? 

 

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

I want the same as the nine countries who have pulled funding, a full and transparent investigation into the whole UNRWA operation in Gaza

 

[Pouatchee]

in a nutshell... god damn the human race sucks. when will all this shi1te caused by religion and politics end?

is there any other species that commits genocide on each other because of some guy in the sky, or some arse who got elected by the people?

 

I wish i had never been born

[bokningar]

When it comes to building tunnels for war and buying rockets there is plenty of money. Food for people not so much.

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, bokningar said:

When it comes to building tunnels for war and buying rockets there is plenty of money. Food for people not so much.

Exactly: "It’s not bad apples. It’s a rotten barrel."

 

https://twitter.com/EylonALevy/status/1751373518149656874

 

[ozimoron]

7 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Where did I imagine there won't be?

 

You support defunding an international organisation. That demonstrates a lack of faith in their ability to investigate. They have already fired the culprits. It's humanitarian organisation, why defund it unless humanitarian causes mean nothing to you?

[ozimoron]

2 minutes ago, bokningar said:

When it comes to building tunnels for war and buying rockets there is plenty of money. Food for people not so much.

 

Yes, Israel gave them the money in order to prevent the formation of unified political representation. It backfired massively.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, ozimoron said:

 

You support defunding an international organisation. That demonstrates a lack of faith in their ability to investigate. They have already fired the culprits. It's humanitarian organisation, why defund it unless humanitarian causes mean nothing to you?

Rubbish, it supports the stance and views taken by all the other western countries, the rest is your imagination. How do you know they have all the culprits?

[ozimoron]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Rubbish, it supports the stance and views taken by all the other western countries, the rest is your imagination. How do you know they have all the culprits?

 

They have all the known culprits. Now your engaging in whatiffery.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, ozimoron said:

 

They have all the known culprits. Now your engaging in whatiffery.

Yes move the goal posts then, all known suspects where as before you claimed:

7 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

You support defunding an international organisation. That demonstrates a lack of faith in their ability to investigate. They have already fired the culprits. It's humanitarian organisation, why defund it unless humanitarian causes mean nothing to you?

That is what the investigation is for.

[ozimoron]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

Yes move the goal posts then, all known suspects where as before you claimed:

That is what the investigation is for.

 

They already investigated. If more allegations surface they will investigate those too. Anyone would think the UN was a lawless organisation with no controls in place. Your team also tried to pass the blame on them for funding Hamas instead of blaming the real culprits, Qatar and Netanyahu,

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, ozimoron said:

 

They already investigated. If more allegations surface they will investigate those too. Anyone would think the UN was a lawless organisation with no controls in place. Your team also tried to pass the blame on them for funding Hamas instead of blaming the real culprits, Qatar and Netanyahu,

They already investigated.

 

You keep making these claims, link to that investigation?

[ozimoron]

8 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

They already investigated.

 

You keep making these claims, link to that investigation?

 

How did they manage to fire employees without an investigation?

[Bkk Brian]

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

 

How did they manage to fire employees without an investigation?

Why not read the OP before making comments. Now a link to that claim is still needed.

12 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

They already investigated. If more allegations surface they will investigate those too. Anyone would think the UN was a lawless organisation with no controls in place. Your team also tried to pass the blame on them for funding Hamas instead of blaming the real culprits, Qatar and Netanyahu,

 

"U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, emphasizing the need for a speedy and comprehensive investigation."

 

[Serenity_Now]

50 minutes ago, mooping20Baht said:

gee what a coincidence of timing.

Biden just gets more complicit by the day. Oh it breaks my heart children are being starved , if only we could do something.

you could release the 100 plus hostages

serve up the animals from the 7th

stop raping and mutilating women and children

might go a long way to improve the situation

complicit is an interesting word

[ozimoron]

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

Why not read the OP before making comments. Now a link to that claim is still needed.

 

"U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, emphasizing the need for a speedy and comprehensive investigation."

 

 

So, prove that they do investigate. Conclusion: non issue. The agency is taking care of it. No need to destroy them. Meantime the employees were fired AFTER being investigated.

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, ozimoron said:

 

So, prove that they do investigate. Conclusion: non issue. The agency is taking care of it. No need to destroy them. Meantime the employees were fired AFTER being investigated.

Link to your claim or retract it

[bokningar]

29 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

Yes, Israel gave them the money in order to prevent the formation of unified political representation. It backfired massively.

Political? No free elections or normal political process in Gaza or rest of Palestine either.

 

It was in January 2006 that the Palestinian territories held what turned out to be their last parliamentary elections. Hamas won a bare plurality of votes (44 percent to the more moderate Fatah party’s 41 percent) but, given the electoral system, a strong majority of seats (74 to 45). Neither party was keen on sharing power. Fighting broke out between the two. When a unity government was finally formed in June 2007, Hamas broke the deal, started murdering Fatah members, and, in the end, took total control of the Gaza Strip. Those who weren’t killed fled to the West Bank, and the territories have remained split ever since.

 

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/10/was-hamas-elected-to-govern-gaza-george-w-bush-2006-palestinian-election.html

[ozimoron]

3 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Link to your claim or retract it

 

How is it not common sense? You're constantly relying on pedantry as a defense.

 

How is it humanly possible for an organisation like this to fire anyone without an investigation, even if that's a preliminary examination of evidence provided?

[ozimoron]

1 minute ago, bokningar said:

Political? No free elections or normal political process in Gaza or rest of Palestine either.

 

It was in January 2006 that the Palestinian territories held what turned out to be their last parliamentary elections. Hamas won a bare plurality of votes (44 percent to the more moderate Fatah party’s 41 percent) but, given the electoral system, a strong majority of seats (74 to 45). Neither party was keen on sharing power. Fighting broke out between the two. When a unity government was finally formed in June 2007, Hamas broke the deal, started murdering Fatah members, and, in the end, took total control of the Gaza Strip. Those who weren’t killed fled to the West Bank, and the territories have remained split ever since.

 

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/10/was-hamas-elected-to-govern-gaza-george-w-bush-2006-palestinian-election.html

 

Lots of governments are freely elected bu tare the political representatives.

[simple1]

Personally I disagree with defunding UNRWA based upon a very small number of staff (approx 15,000 staff in Gaza) allegedly involved with Oct 7. UNRWA has already fired those who Israel named. I would guess it is extremely difficult to identify staff actually involved with terrorism. As an outcome of this matter UNRWA will be under additional scrutiny by various security agencies. UNRWA carry our very important work supporting the local population in an extremely challenging environment - to date 100 UN staff killed in Gaza since 7 October. IMO it amounts to collective punishment to withhold funding, enable them to carry on with their essential services.

[300sd]

Cry me a river. These UNRWA creatures are surprised of the link from some of their employees to Hamas terrorist attack! They are all complicit. If one isn't anti-Semitic then it's only a little common sense!

[simple1]

2 minutes ago, ozimoron said:

 

How is it not common sense? You're constantly relying on pedantry as a defense.

 

How is it humanly possible for an organisation like this to fire anyone without an investigation, even if that's a preliminary examination of evidence provided?

 

Real politic