Japan joined a rising checklist of nations on Sunday to place a halt to offering funding for the United Nations Reduction and Works Company (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees, citing considerations about allegations that workers members of the company participated within the Oct. 7 terror assault on Israel.
Additionally placing a cease to the funding briefly are the U.S., Germany, U.Okay., Canada and no less than 5 different international locations.
Israel launched proof displaying {that a} dozen of the group’s workers in Gaza participated within the bloodbath of 1,200 Israeli residents by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023.
“Against this backdrop, Japan is extremely concerned about the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff members in the terror attack on Israel on October 7 last year,” Overseas Press Secretary Kobayashi Maki from the Ministry of Overseas Affairs of Japan stated. “In response, Japan has decided to suspend additional funding to UNRWA for the time being while UNRWA conducts an investigation into the matter and considers measures to address the allegations.”
Kobayashi stated Japan has been “strongly urging” the UNRWA to analyze the matter in a immediate and full method and take applicable measures.
Particularly, Kobayashi stated measures ought to embrace strengthening governance inside UNRWA, so the company can fulfill the position it’s speculated to play.
“At the same time, Japan will continue to make persistent and active diplomatic efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and to calm down the situation as soon as possible by providing support to other international organizations,” Kobayashi added.
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A person walks in entrance of the United Nations Reduction and Works Company (UNRWA) constructing as UNRWA personnel strike demanding a wage improve due to the excessive price of residing, in Gaza Metropolis, Gaza on January 30, 2023. (Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Company through Getty Photographs)
The Ministry of Overseas Affairs of Japan introduced it was suspending UNRWA funding on the identical day that U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres known as on member international locations to renew funding for the company, regardless of accusations from Israel that a number of the group’s workers participated within the bloodbath final 12 months.
Guterres stated he understood the considerations resulting in international locations suspending funding to UNRWA, including that he himself was horrified by the accusations. However he strongly appealed to these nation’s governments to proceed with funding for UNRWA’s operations.
“Of the 12 people implicated, nine were immediately identified and terminated by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini; one is confirmed dead, and the identity of the two others is being clarified,” he stated. “Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.”
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António Guterres, Secretary-Common of the United Nations requested international locations that positioned momentary halts on offering funding for UNRWA to proceed on Jan. 28, 2024. (Kiara Value /COP28 through Getty Photographs)
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan fired again at Guterres’ name for international locations to resume their funding for UNRWA.
“The UN Secretary-General has proven once again that the security of the citizens of Israel is not really important for him,” Erdan stated. “After years in which he ignored the evidence presented to him personally about UNRWA’s support and involvement in incitement and terrorism, and before he conducted a comprehensive investigation to locate all Hamas terrorists in UNRWA, he called to fund an organization that is deeply contaminated with terrorism.”
Erdan stated each nation that continues to fund the company earlier than a complete investigation may be performed ought to be conscious that the cash could also be used for terrorism.
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He additionally stated the help transferred to UNRWA might attain Hamas terrorists as a substitute of the individuals who want it in Gaza.
“I call on all donor states to suspend their support and demand an in-depth investigation that will investigate the involvement of all UNRWA employees in terror,” the ambassador stated.
