West cuts UNRWA funds amid Israeli propaganda of affiliation in Oct. 7
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Several Western countries have joined forces against UNRWA in Gaza, and cut funding allocated to the organization after "Israel" accused 12 UNRWA employees of aiding in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.
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Palestinians try to extinguish a fire at a building of an UNRWA vocational training center which displaced people use as a shelter, after being targeted by Israeli tank shill in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. (AP)
Several Western countries have joined forces against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, and cut funding allocated to the organization after "Israel" accused 12 of its employees of participating in Operation Al Aqsa Flood on October 7.
The United States and Canada led the move, and Finland, Australia, Britain, and Italy followed on Saturday, revealing that their countries would suspend funding to UNRWA.
Hamas and WHO condemn all accusations
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus denied all accusations in a post on X.
"Such false claims are harmful and can endanger our staff who are risking their lives to serve the vulnerable."
WHO refutes Israel's accusation at the Executive Board meeting yesterday that WHO is in “collusion” with Hamas and is “turning a blind eye” to the suffering of hostages being held in Gaza. Such false claims are harmful and can endanger our staff who are risking their lives to…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 26, 2024
Hamas also condemned the measures and extended support to UNRWA, saying it must not be deterred by these baseless accusations and “not to yield to the blackmails and threats of the Israeli occupation, and its efforts to cut off the lifelines of the Palestinian people.”
The Resistance also denounced the occupation's efforts to cut off all forms of relief to Palestinians amid its vicious genocide in Gaza, especially as all aid deliveries have been actively obstructed by its forces.
It seems as though "Israel" is fabricating a narrative that actively blacklists relief organizations to further instill suffering in Gaza.
🚨Press Statement issued by the Islamic Resistance Movement-Hamas:
— Suribelle 🔻 (@Syribelle) January 27, 2024
We received with strong condemnation the statement issued by the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Mr. Philippe Lazzarini, in which he announced… pic.twitter.com/pvieURHwaE
UNRWA: Another target for 'Israel'
UNRWA has been a target of Israeli bombardment since the start of the genocide.
An aggression by Israeli forces on a facility in southern Gaza, which housed approximately 800 displaced individuals, resulted in the martyrdom of nine people and left 75 others injured, as reported by UNRWA in a statement on Wednesday.
"Update - attack on Khan Younis Training Center this afternoon. Two tank rounds hit a building that shelters 800 people. Reports now nine dead and 75 injured. UNRWA and WHO team trying to reach the center agreed upon route with the Israeli army, blocked with earth bank," UNRWA Director in Gaza Thomas White said in the statement.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini revealed that a separate Israeli aggression on Monday on another UN shelter in Khan Younis resulted in the martyrdom of six displaced individuals.
As of now, only 4 UNRWA facilities out of 22 are still operating in Gaza.
Read more: Ceasefire calls in Gaza 'falling on deaf ears': UNRWA chief
