After the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, it is France’s turn to announce, on Sunday January 28, the temporary suspension of its financial aid to the UN refugee agency Palestinians (UNRWA). These various announcements come after accusations made against UNRWA employees who may have been involved in the bloody Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023.
“France has not planned a new payment for the first half of 2024 and will decide when the time comes what action to take in conjunction with the United Nations and the main donors [dont fait partie Paris, avec 60 millions d’euros versés en 2023 à l’UNRWA] »says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release, citing accusations of “exceptional gravity”.
Earlier in the day on Sunday, the Secretary General of the United Nations had urged countries that had suspended their funding to the UN agency, in the turmoil, to “at least guarantee” the continuation of its operations, essential to two million people.
The agency, at the heart of humanitarian aid in Gaza, announced on Friday that it had separated from several employees accused of being involved in the attack perpetrated on October 7 by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Israel, on the basis of information from the Israeli authorities. As soon as this announcement was made, the United States announced the suspension of any additional aid to UNRWA, followed by several other countries, including Italy, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Finland and Germany. .
Internal investigation opened
“While I understand their concerns – I myself was horrified by these accusations – I strongly urge those governments that have suspended their contributions to at least guarantee the continuity of UNRWA operations”pleaded Antonio Guterres in a press release.
“Two million civilians in Gaza depend on critical assistance from UNRWA for their daily survival but current UNRWA funding will not allow it to meet all needs in February”he insisted.
“There must be consequences for the alleged despicable actions of these employees. But the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for aid workers, should not be penalized. We must respond to the urgent needs of the desperate populations they care for.”added the UN Secretary General.
He confirmed, as Washington had indicated, that twelve UNRWA employees were affected by these “extremely serious charges” which are the subject of an internal UN investigation. UNRWA has separated from nine of them, one is “confirmed dead”and the identities of two others are “being clarified”he clarified.
“Any UN employee involved in terrorist acts must be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution”he assured, promising his cooperation with the competent authorities.
Violation of the ICJ decision
An independent UN expert believes that these suspensions violate the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and could even violate the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
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Francesca Albanese, United Nations special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories, recalled that the ICJ had ordered “enable effective humanitarian aid” for the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.
This decision by several countries therefore amounts to “openly disobeying the order of the ICJ”. “This is a decision that will result in legal liabilities – or else see the end of the international justice system”has she written on.