The head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, has called on eight countries, including the UK and US, to reconsider their decision to suspend funding to the agency. The countries acted in response to allegations that some UNRWA staff were involved in deadly Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. The agency, which provides healthcare, education, and other humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria, has initiated an investigation and dismissed the implicated employees. Lazzarini described the funding suspension as “shocking”, arguing that it is irresponsible to punish an entire agency and community for the alleged actions of a few individuals. He added that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services is conducting an investigation into the allegations. The recent attacks have led to a massive retaliation from Israel on Hamas in Gaza, resulting in over 26,000 Palestinian deaths according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
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