UNRWA on verge of closing as funding freezes amid Hamas allegations

UN Palestinian aid agency faces imminent shutdown threats across the region by the end of February due to international funding cuts

The U.N. aid agency for Palestinians said Thursday that international funding cuts may force the shutdown of operations across the region “by the end of February.”

Several major donor countries to UNRWA said they would suspend funding after Israel alleged 12 agency employees took part in Hamas’s Oct.7 attack.

UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said that “if the funding remains suspended, we will most likely be forced to shut down our operations by the end of February not only in Gaza but also across the region.”

The “backbone” of aid to Gaza, according to the U.N., UNRWA is accused by Israel of being “totally infiltrated by Hamas”.

It also operates in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.

Source: AFP

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