Washington sets this condition in exchange for resuming funding for UNRWA
The United States representative to the United Nations said on Tuesday that Washington needs to see “fundamental changes” before resuming its funding for UNRWA, after Israeli accusations that some of the agency’s employees were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US representative to the United Nations, welcomed the organization’s decision to conduct an investigation and review of the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
“We need to look at the organization’s activities and how it operates in Gaza, how it manages its staff, and ensure that people who commit criminal acts, like these 12 individuals, are held accountable so that UNRWA can continue the important work it does,” Greenfield said.
The Israeli accusations prompted several countries to stop funding the agency.
An Israeli intelligence file includes accusations that some of the agency’s employees participated in kidnappings and killings during the Hamas attack.
The Israeli intelligence file accuses about 190 UNRWA employees of joining the Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements.
The Palestinians accused Israel of falsifying information to discredit the agency, which says it has fired some of its employees and is investigating the accusations.
