Israel Wants UN Help to Palestinians in Gaza to Stop After War

File image of destroyed buildings in Beit Lahia following Israeli bombardments in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: AFP

Israel Wants UN Help to Palestinians in Gaza to Stop After War

Israel wants the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees in Gaza to stop working there after the war. A minister said this on Saturday. Israel accused some UN agency staff of being involved in an attack by Hamas on October 7. Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, said on X (formerly Twitter) that he wants to make sure UNRWA won't be part of the situation after the war. He plans to get support from the US, EU, and other big donors to the agency.

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, criticized Israel's "threats" against UNRWA and asked the UN and other global organizations not to give in to these threats.

UNRWA fired some employees accused by Israel of being involved in Hamas's October 7 actions. Because of this, the United States stopped important funding. The head of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, promised to hold accountable any employee involved in acts of terror.

In response to the firings, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, promised to do a quick and thorough independent review of UNRWA. The US State Department temporarily stopped additional funding while it reviewed the claims and the UN's plan to address concerns.

Twelve employees "may have been involved," according to the US State Department. Australia, Italy, and Canada also said they stopped funding the agency.

Israel has promised to defeat Hamas. The Israeli military offensive, according to Gaza's health ministry, has killed at least 26,083 people, with about 70% of them being women and children.