Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting that an Israeli bank has notified UNRWA that it is blocking the agency’s bank account due to “tangible suspicions it is transferring funds to terror groups in Gaza”.
The bank, which was not named in the report, said it had received information of unusual activity including untraceable transfers in the UNRWA’s account, and issued multiple alerts.
Fifteen donor countries withdrew their funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) after a leaked Israeli intelligence assessment claimed a dozen of the agency’s staff were involved in the October 7 attacks.
Earlier today, UNRWA’s commissioner-general said his agency had not yet been shown any evidence to corroborate these claims.
British newspaper the Financial Times also reported that it had looked at the assessment and it did not provide evidence for the claims.
A truck, marked with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) logo, crosses into Egypt from Gaza, at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah, Egypt, November 27, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Aid groups have been warning that cuts to UNRWA will deepen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza [File: Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters]
UNRWA vows to ‘do whatever possible’ to continue aid work
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has called for donations amid funding cuts by Western countries after Israel accused the agency’s employees of participating in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Israel has not shown evidence to back the allegations, and aid groups have warned that the cuts will worsen the already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“As the largest humanitarian organisation in Gaza Strip – we will do whatever possible to continue our indispensable work to support people in Gaza,” UNRWA said in a post on X.
“Despite repeated calls, there is still no humanitarian ceasefire.”
