Austria is suspending payments to the United Nations’ Palestinian aid agency, UNRWA, pending a full investigation into accusations that its employees were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the Austrian foreign ministry said on Monday.
“We call on UNRWA and the United Nations to conduct a comprehensive, swift and complete investigation into the allegations,” the ministry said in a statement. Austria joins Britain, Germany, the United States, Australia and Canada, among others, in pausing funding to the aid agency, a critical source of support for people in Gaza.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees employs thousands of staffers and provides vital aid and services to millions of people across the Middle East. In Gaza, it has been the main supplier of food, water and shelter to civilians during the Israel-Hamas war.
Israel has long accused the agency of tolerating or even collaborating with Hamas and of perpetuating the Palestinian refugee crisis. The Israeli government has accused Hamas and other militant groups of siphoning off aid and using UN facilities for military purposes. UNRWA denies those allegations and says it took swift action against the employees accused of taking part in the attack.
The head of the UN agency on Saturday said that decision will jeopardise its lifesaving programmes, urging them to reconsider. It was “shocking” to see the suspension of funds in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, said in a statement. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that two million Palestinians in Gaza, or 87% of the population, rely on UNRWA services that would be scaled back as soon as February if the money is not restored.
(With agency inputs)
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