Watan-Former Vice President of Egypt, Mohamed ElBaradei, has issued an urgent call to Arab countries following the decision of some Western nations to suspend their funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the aftermath of allegations against 12 of its employees (out of 30,000 employees) of involvement in the October 7 attacks.
ElBaradei stated in a post on his known Twitter account: “The decision of some Western countries to suspend their funding for UNRWA, responsible for humanitarian aid to over five million Palestinian refugees, due to accusations against 12 of its employees amidst the ongoing massacres in Gaza and following the International Court of Justice’s order to Israel to take preventive measures to protect Gaza residents from possible genocide, is an inhumane decision.”
He added: “The timing of suspending funding during the ongoing massacres in Gaza and after the International Court of Justice’s order to Israel is a timing that cannot be understood or justified.”
قرار مجموعة من الدول الغربية بتعليق تمويلها لمنظمة الأونروا @UNRWA ، المسؤولة عن المساعدات الانسانية لأكثر من ٥ مليون لاجئ فلسطينى، بسبب اتهام ١٢من موظفيها ( من بين ٣٠ ألف موظف) بالتورط فى هجمات ٧ اكتوبر هو قرار غير انساني على الإطلاق
توقيت تعليق التمويل اثناء المذابح المستمرة…
— Mohamed ElBaradei (@ElBaradei) January 27, 2024
ElBaradei’s demand from Arab countries
ElBaradei’s demand from Arab countries: “I urge Arab countries to quickly provide the necessary funding for UNRWA, which currently constitutes the lifeline for all the people of Gaza. This is the least and the weakest of faith.”
Several countries, including the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, and Australia, decided to suspend their funding for UNRWA following Israeli allegations of the agency’s employees participating in the Al-Aqsa Intifada carried out by Palestinian resistance.
Hamas condemns Western move
The Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas” condemned the Israeli incitement campaign against international institutions contributing to relieving the Palestinian people facing genocide. It stated that the incitement against UNRWA aims to cut its funding and deprive the Palestinian people of their right to the services of these international agencies.
Israel plans to end UNRWA’s presence in Gaza after the war
Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz announced that Israel will seek to prevent the UNRWA from operating in the sector after the end of the war. Katz stated on the “X” platform that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to ensure that UNRWA is not part of the post-war phase. He added that he will seek support from the United States, the European Union, and other major donor parties.