France Reevaluates UNRWA Funding Amid Employee Involvement in Hamas Attack
France announced on Sunday a reassessment of its funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) following the agency’s Friday disclosure that at least 12 employees were involved in the Hamas-led massacre on October 7. Nine of the employees were fired, two were under investigation, and one was dead, the agency said.
“France has not planned a new payment for the first half of 2024 and will decide when the time comes on the action to take together with the United Nations and the main donors,” the French Foreign Ministry statement reads.
Over the weekend, Britain, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and Finland followed the United States, Australia, and Canada in suspending their contributions to the humanitarian agency, reacting to reports of employee involvement in terrorism.
On Saturday, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, called for the complete disbandment and replacement of UNRWA once the conflict in the Gaza Strip subsides. He accused the organization of maintaining long-standing, deep ties with Hamas.
“In Gaza’s rebuilding, UNRWA must be replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development,” he posted on social media platform X.
Established after the 1948 war to aid the substantial displaced Palestinian population after Israel’s war of independence victory, UNRWA is viewed as a vital support source for Palestinians but has faced criticism for alleged corruption and sympathies toward armed groups like Hamas.
The United States, the first to halt funding on Friday, remains UNRWA’s largest contributor, having provided $340 million in 2022. Excluding France, the combined contributions of the approximately ten countries mentioned account for nearly 60% of UNRWA’s 2022 budget. The impact of this funding pause on the agency’s daily operations remains uncertain.
