View source for UNRWA and Israel

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[[File:UNRWA Jerusalem.jpg|thumb|right|UNRWA offices in [[East Jerusalem]], [[Israeli occupation of the West Bank|Israeli-occupied]] [[West Bank]].]]

The relationship between the [[United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East]] (UNRWA) and [[Israel]] is a feature of the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]]. For decades, UNRWA has faced Israeli allegations surrounding its neutrality. It is the largest relief organization in the Gaza Strip which is currently [[Gaza humanitarian crisis (2023–present)|undergoing a humanitarian crisis]] during the [[Israel–Hamas war]]. UNRWA was created as a [[List of specialized agencies of the United Nations|United Nations agency]] in 1949 to support the relief of [[Palestinian refugees]] in the wake of their [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|expulsion and flight]] during the [[1948 Palestine war]]. After Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 [[Six-Day War]], it requested that UNRWA continue its operations there, which it would facilitate.

In early 2024, Israel made a series of allegations against UNRWA, including that a number of its [[Gaza Strip]] staff had participated in the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]] and that hundreds of them were members of militant groups.<ref name="Days before" /> The allegations led to aid cuts to the organization, most of which were later reversed with the exception of the [[United States]], the organization's largest donor.<ref name="magramo">{{cite news |last1=Magramo |first1=Kathleen |last2=Edwards |first2=Christian |last3=Sangal |first3=Aditi |title=UNRWA neutrality must be strengthened, independent review finds |url=https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-22-24/h_04e164891070a0708f16b13ac2285323 |work=CNN |date=22 April 2024 |language=en |access-date=24 April 2024 |archive-date=24 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240424115416/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-04-22-24/h_04e164891070a0708f16b13ac2285323 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report|title=Israel has yet to provide evidence of Unrwa staff terrorist links, Colonna report says|first=Julian|last=Borger|date=22 April 2024|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=22 April 2024|archive-date=22 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422141150/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-chief-accepts-independent-review-unrwa-2024-04-22/|title=UN chief accepts independent review of UNRWA &#124; Reuters|website=[[Reuters]]|access-date=22 April 2024|archive-date=23 April 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240423004717/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-chief-accepts-independent-review-unrwa-2024-04-22/|url-status=live}}</ref> Eventually, a UN investigation found that nine UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the attack on Israel and terminated them, found that evidence against nine other staff members was insufficient, and found that there was no evidence against one additional accused staff member.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/05/nine-unrwa-staff-members-may-have-been-involved-in-7-october-attack|title=Nine Unrwa staff members 'may have been involved' in 7 October attack|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

In a move widely condemned, on 28 October 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed two laws, that within 3 months will ban UNRWA activities in Israel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-un-aid-refugees-16bc0524adc947b95abe25d7d9eca038|title=Israel approves two bills that could halt UNRWA's aid delivery to Gaza. What does that mean?|date=28 October 2024|website=AP News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-10-28/ty-article/.premium/knesset-approves-bills-banning-un-relief-agency-unrwa-from-operating-in-israel/00000192-d49c-d20d-a9da-f6dccbc90000|title=Knesset Approves Bills Banning UN Relief Agency UNRWA From Operating in Israel - Israel News - Haaretz.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp2ejzpxeo|title=Unrwa: Israel bans UN Palestinian refugee agency, raising Gaza aid fears|website=www.bbc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/29/intolerable-dangerous-precedent-world-condemns-israels-unrwa-ban?traffic_source=rss|title='Intolerable', 'dangerous precedent': World condemns Israel's UNRWA ban|first=Al Jazeera|last=Staff|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

== Background ==
{{Main|1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|1948 Palestine war|UNRWA}}
{{further|Israel–Hamas war|2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|International aid to Palestinians#UNRWA}}

[[File:Palestinian refugees (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Palestinian refugees]] [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|leaving]] the [[Galilee]] region during the [[1948 Palestine war]] ]]

The [[1948 Palestine war]] saw the expulsion and flight of around 700,000 Palestinians, which were a majority of former [[Mandatory Palestine]]'s predominantly Arab population, and the subsequent establishment of [[Israel]]. These [[Palestinian refugees]] were scattered in what became the [[West Bank]] and the [[Gaza Strip]], and in neighboring countries such as [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]] and [[Syria]]. This displacement has been characterized by most historians as [[ethnic cleansing]].<ref name="ECP"/>

The [[United Nations]] intervened to deal with the aftermath of its 1947 [[United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine|partition plan for Palestine]], and it chose to create a new special agency for [[Palestinian refugees]], instead of involving the existing [[International Refugee Organization]] (IRO). Israel and Zionist Jewish organizations worldwide were responsible for this decision to exclude the IRO, as it had been the same body that was assisting [[European Jewish]] refugees following their persecution by [[Nazi Germany]] during [[World War II]], and they wanted to avoid any comparison or association between the two situations. Furthermore, the IRO's first solution to dealing with refugees would have been [[repatriation]], which Israel sought to avoid. This decision was called one of the UN's "first misguided decisions" by Israeli historian [[Ilan Pappe]].<ref name="ECP">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xhq9DwAAQBAJ|title=The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine|author=Ilan Pappe|date=1 September 2007|accessdate=14 August 2024|publisher=Simon and Schuster|page=235-236|isbn=978-1-78074-056-0 }}</ref>

UNRWA was not committed to the return of Palestinian refugees displaced by the 1948 war as was stipulated by the [[United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194|UN General Assembly resolution 194]], but was created to provide subsidies and employment to the refugees in the camps. It was also responsible for the construction of camps, schools and medical facilities.<ref name="ECP"/>

UNRWA is a [[United Nations System|UN agency]] responsible for supporting the relief and [[Human development (economics)|human development]] of [[Palestinian refugees]]. It was established to assist Palestinians [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|displaced]] by the [[1948 Palestine war]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Jason |date=2024-01-26 |title=UN agency investigates staff suspected of role in the 7 October attack on Israel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/unrwa-investigation-staff-7-october-attack-israel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126215919/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/unrwa-investigation-staff-7-october-attack-israel |archive-date=2024-01-26 |access-date=2024-01-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> (estimated at 700,000 individuals) and subsequent conflicts, along with their descendants,<ref>{{citation |last=Dowty |first=Alan |title=Israel/Palestine |page=243 |year=2012 |publisher=Polity |isbn=9780745656113}}</ref><ref name="figures2">[http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/2011080123958.pdf UNRWA in Figures] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108192828/http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/2011080123958.pdf|date=8 January 2021}}.</ref> including legally adopted children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Consolidated Eligibility and Registration Instructions |url=https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/2010011995652.pdf |publisher=UNRWA |quote=Persons who meet UNRWA's Palestine Refugee criteria These are persons whose regular place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict. Palestine Refugees, and descendants of Palestine refugee males, including legally adopted children, are eligible to register for UNRWA services. The agency accepts new applications from persons who wish to be registered as Palestine Refugees. Once they are registered with UNRWA, persons in this category are referred to as Registered Refugees or as Registered Palestine Refugees. |access-date=27 January 2024 |archive-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901034936/https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/2010011995652.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> It now aids over 5.6 million registered Palestinian refugees (as of 2019).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently asked questions |url=https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions |access-date=2020-08-09 |publisher=UNRWA |language=en |archive-date=2023-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210040754/https://www.unrwa.org/who-we-are/frequently-asked-questions |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, UNRWA's largest donors were the US, the EU and Germany.<ref name=":0" />

After Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza in the June 1967 [[Six-Day War]], it requested that the UNRWA continue its operations there, which it would facilitate.<ref name="meforum.org">{{cite journal |url=http://www.meforum.org/3380/israel-relations-unrwa |journal=Middle East Quarterly |title=Jerusalem's Surprisingly Good Relations with UNRWA |last=Spiegel |first=Baruch |date=2012 |access-date=2014-08-16 |archive-date=3 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203131844/https://www.meforum.org/3380/israel-relations-unrwa |url-status=live }}</ref> A few days after the conclusion of the war, Israeli defense minister [[Moshe Dayan]] wrote in the closing minutes of a governmental meeting on 19 June 1967 that: "800,000 refugees are now under our responsibility, after years of the world shouting at the Arab states to do something about it." He continued, writing that: "It is not an issue now, let us not raise it. We shall deal with it later... We should be thankful for the fact that UNRWA still takes care of them."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0hm9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT126|title=The Biggest Prison on Earth: A History of Gaza and the Occupied Territories|first=Ilan |last=Pappé|authorlink=Ilan Pappé|publisher=[[Simon and Schuster]]|date=22 June 2017|isbn=978-1-78074-433-9|accessdate=14 August 2024|archive-date=22 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240822124019/https://books.google.com/books?id=0hm9DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT126|url-status=live}}</ref> Since then the relationship has been characterized by [[Two-state solution|two-state]] advocate Baruch Spiegel, as "an uneasy marriage of convenience between two unlikely bedfellows that have helped perpetuate the problem both have allegedly sought to resolve."<ref name="meforum.org"/>

Immediately following the Six-Day War, on 14 June UNRWA Commissioner-General Dr. [[Laurence Michelmore]] and Political Advisor to the Israeli Foreign Minister [[Michael Comay]] exchanged letters that has since served as much of the basis for the relationship between Israel and UNRWA.<ref name="Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/mfadocuments/yearbook1/pages/exchange%20of%20letters%20constituting%20a%20provisional%20agreement%20concerning%20assistance%20to%20palestine%20refugees.aspx|title=Exchange of letters constituting a provisional agreement concerning assistance to Palestine Refugees|publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs|access-date=2015-05-14|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518092102/http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/mfadocuments/yearbook1/pages/exchange%20of%20letters%20constituting%20a%20provisional%20agreement%20concerning%20assistance%20to%20palestine%20refugees.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Commonly referred to the Comay-Michelmore Exchange of Letters,<ref>{{cite web|title=Report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East|url=http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/20100118134924.pdf|publisher=UNRWA|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055626/http://www.unrwa.org/userfiles/20100118134924.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Comay-Michelmore – Agreement|url=http://unterm.un.org/DGAACS/unterm.nsf/8fa942046ff7601c85256983007ca4d8/c6901b955684c7ec85256c3f004743d7?OpenDocument|publisher=United Nations|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093130/http://unterm.un.org/DGAACS/unterm.nsf/8fa942046ff7601c85256983007ca4d8/c6901b955684c7ec85256c3f004743d7?OpenDocument|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> the initial letter from Michelmore reiterates a verbal conversation between the two, stating that:

<blockquote>at the request of the Israel Government, UNRWA would continue its assistance to the Palestine refugees, with the full co-operation of the Israel authorities, in the West Bank and Gaza Strip areas. For its part, the Israel Government will facilitate the task of UNRWA to the best of its ability, subject only to regulations or arrangements which may be necessitated by considerations of military security.<ref name="Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs"/> </blockquote>

In his responding letter, Comay wrote:<ref name="Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs" />

<blockquote>I agree that your letter and this reply constitute a provisional agreement between UNRWA and the Government of Israel, to remain in force until replaced or cancelled.</blockquote>

With a workforce of over 30,000 employees, including approximately 13,000 in Gaza,<ref name=":8" /> UNRWA predominantly comprises Palestinian refugees alongside a smaller contingent of international staff.<ref name="unrwa-working">{{Cite web |title=Working at UNRWA |url=https://www.unrwa.org/careers/working-unrwa |publisher=UNRWA |access-date=2024-01-27 |archive-date=2023-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921090305/https://www.unrwa.org/careers/working-unrwa |url-status=live}}</ref> Operating in Gaza, the [[West Bank]], [[Jordan]], [[Syria]] and [[Lebanon]], the agency's mandate has shifted from providing employment and humanitarian aid to delivering healthcare, schooling, and social services to the population it serves.<ref name=":0" /> Prior to the [[Israel–Hamas war]], UNRWA operated 700 schools and 140 health centers in the Gaza Strip.<ref name=":0" />

UNRWA is the only UN agency dedicated to aiding refugees from a specific region or conflict,<ref>{{cite web |publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |title=UNHCR&nbsp;- The UN Refugee Agency |url=http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home |access-date=2024-01-27 |archive-date=2022-09-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912041242/https://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home |url-status=live}}</ref> distinguishing it from [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|UNHCR]], a UN agency established in 1950 to assist refugees globally. Unlike UNRWA, UNHCR's mandate includes supporting refugees in achieving local integration, resettlement in third countries, or repatriation when feasible, with the aim of eliminating their refugee status.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Elhanan |date=June 2012 |title=Palestinian Refugees and the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Negotiations |url=http://icsr.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/1346247918ICSRAtkinPaperSeries_ElhananMiller.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207232443/http://icsr.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/1346247918ICSRAtkinPaperSeries_ElhananMiller.pdf |archive-date=7 February 2016 |access-date=17 January 2015 |publisher=International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence |quote=To use a trite image, while UNHCR strives to give its refugees fishing rods, UNRWA is busy distributing fish}}</ref>

Israel has been a longtime critic of UNRWA<ref>{{cite news |last1=Isaac |first1=David |date=31 December 2023 |title=Israel wants UNRWA out of Gaza |url=https://www.jns.org/israel-wants-unrwa-out-of-gaza/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128030959/https://www.jns.org/israel-wants-unrwa-out-of-gaza/ |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |publisher=Jewish News Syndicate}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Israel lauds aid suspensions, says UNRWA must be 'replaced' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/27/israels-war-on-gaza-live-hospital-blackout-amid-khan-younis-assault?update=2653371 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128042600/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/27/israels-war-on-gaza-live-hospital-blackout-amid-khan-younis-assault?update=2653371 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref> and considers it an obstacle to resolving the [[Israel-Palestine conflict]], by preventing the descendants of refugees from settling in their present locations and keeping the [[Palestinian right of return|question of return]] open.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kingsley |first1=Patrick |date=27 January 2024 |title=Israel Has History of Friction With U.N. Agency for Palestinians |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/world/middleeast/israel-unrwa-hamas-gaza-un.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128235827/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/world/middleeast/israel-unrwa-hamas-gaza-un.html |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kingsley |first1=Patrick |title=Israel Has History of Friction With U.N. Agency for Palestinians |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/world/middleeast/israel-unrwa-hamas-gaza-un.html |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=27 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128235827/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/world/middleeast/israel-unrwa-hamas-gaza-un.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Ebrahim |first1=Nadeen |title=The demise of the UN's Palestinian agency could spell disaster for millions. Here's why Israel wants it dismantled |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/middleeast/unrwa-funding-israel-war-mime-intl/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=29 January 2024 |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130011738/https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/29/middleeast/unrwa-funding-israel-war-mime-intl/index.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Israel has also expressed concern over what the agency teaches students and over the agency's relation to Hamas;<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abdulrahim |first1=Raja |last2=Barnes |first2=Julian E. |last3=Boxerman |first3=Aaron |last4=Kingsley |first4=Patrick |date=27 January 2024 |title=Major Donors Pause Funding for U.N. Agency as Scandal Widens |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/world/middleeast/pause-funding-gaza-unrwa.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128040757/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/world/middleeast/pause-funding-gaza-unrwa.html |url-status=live}}</ref> according to Israel, schools operated by the agency have been used by Hamas for terrorist activities.<ref name=":10">{{cite news |date=2024-01-26 |title=Several UN Agency Staff Fired for Alleged Ties to October 7 Attack on Israel |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/several-un-agency-staff-fired-for-alleged-ties-to-oct-7-israel-attack/7458679.html |access-date=2024-01-28 |publisher=Voice of America |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127075245/https://www.voanews.com/a/several-un-agency-staff-fired-for-alleged-ties-to-oct-7-israel-attack/7458679.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021, UNRWA's major donors, Australia, Canada, [[United Kingdom|UK]] and the [[European Union]], began investigating [[Textbooks in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict|hate and violence in UNRWA textbooks]], UNRWA responded by blocking access to the textbooks in its website.<ref name="haaretz-unrwa">{{cite news |last1=Linder |first1=Ronny |title=How UNRWA Became the Second-most Influential Organization in Gaza After Hamas |url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2023-12-12/ty-article-magazine/.premium/how-unrwa-became-the-second-most-important-organization-in-gaza/0000018c-5deb-d798-adac-fdefaf450000 |work=[[Haaretz]] |date=12 December 2023 |language=en |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=14 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214092351/https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/2023-12-12/ty-article-magazine/.premium/how-unrwa-became-the-second-most-important-organization-in-gaza/0000018c-5deb-d798-adac-fdefaf450000 |url-status=live}}</ref> In a hearing later the same year, UNRWA Commissioner-General [[Philippe Lazzarini]] acknowledged that the content of the UNRWA school curriculum included antisemitism, glorification of acts of terror and incitement to violence.<ref>{{cite news |date=2021-09-01 |title=UNRWA Head Faces Questions at EU Parliament Over 'Hate Speech, Violence' in Palestinian Textbooks |work=The Algemeiner |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/09/01/unrwa-head-faces-questions-at-eu-parliament-over-hate-speech-violence-in-palestinian-textbooks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828153102/https://www.algemeiner.com/2021/09/01/unrwa-head-faces-questions-at-eu-parliament-over-hate-speech-violence-in-palestinian-textbooks/ |archive-date=2022-08-28 |access-date=2024-01-27 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="haaretz-unrwa" />

A few weeks after the 7 October attacks, [[Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education|IMPACT-SE]] reported that at least a hundred Hamas members had been educated within the UNRWA system, with two confirmed to have participated in the attacks.<ref>{{cite news |date=2023-10-26 |title=Hamas terrorists were graduates of UNRWA schools in Gaza |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-770169 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127005127/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-770169 |archive-date=2024-01-27 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=The Jerusalem Post|language=en-US}}</ref> Israeli officials have alleged that since the 7 October attacks, several UNRWA members have been observed celebrating the incidents on social media platforms.<ref name=":10" /> Prior to the release of the allegations, Israeli officials had discussed ways to shut down UNRWA funding. At the end of December 2023, ''The Times of Israel'' reported the contents of "a high-level, classified Foreign Ministry report" outlining a three-step plan to force UNRWA out of post-war Gaza, with step one involving a "comprehensive report on alleged UNRWA cooperation with Hamas".<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel hoping to push UNRWA out of Gaza post-war |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-hoping-to-push-unrwa-out-of-gaza-post-war-report/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114141506/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-hoping-to-push-unrwa-out-of-gaza-post-war-report/ |archive-date=14 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |website=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref> On 4 January 2024, ''[[Israel Hayom]]'' reported that a group of Knesset members were seeking to halt global funding for [[UNRWA]], based on concerns that it is a tool of Hamas. MK [[Sharren Haskel]] stated they sought "to stop funds which are being transferred from various countries to this organization, and remove UNRWA's mask".<ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli parliament group lobbies to halt global funding for UNRWA |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/4/israel-hamas-war-live-bloody-day-for-hezbollah-tensions-with-israel-soar?update=2596988 |access-date=5 January 2024 |publisher=Al Jazeera |archive-date=5 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105041235/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/4/israel-hamas-war-live-bloody-day-for-hezbollah-tensions-with-israel-soar?update=2596988 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Most members of parliament who I spoke with and briefed did not know that UNRWA is essentially run by Hamas and that it is one of the central problems in the Israel-Palestinian conflict,' MK Sharren Haskel says. |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383045 |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128235912/https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/383045 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 17 January 2024, UNRWA announced the creation of an independent Review Group to be led by [[Catherine Colonna]], former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, to assess whether the Agency is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they are made.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/situation-in-occupied-palestine-and-israel/allegations-against-unrwa-staff|title=Allegations against UNRWA staff|publisher=United Nations|access-date=24 March 2024|archive-date=25 May 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240525092107/https://www.un.org/en/situation-in-occupied-palestine-and-israel/allegations-against-unrwa-staff|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Preempt">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/20/israel-will-ignore-findings-of-inquiries-into-unrwa-in-gaza-say-diplomats|title=Israeli diplomats pre-emptively attack findings of Unrwa inquiries|first1=Patrick|last1=Wintour|date=20 March 2024|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 March 2024|archive-date=10 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510032548/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/20/israel-will-ignore-findings-of-inquiries-into-unrwa-in-gaza-say-diplomats|url-status=live}}</ref> The report was published on 22 April 2024 and found that Israel has not provided evidence of claims that many UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organisations. While suggesting ways that neutrality safeguards for UNRWA staff could be improved, the report says that they are already more rigorous than most other comparable institutions. The report also considers that UNRWA is indispensable to Palestinians in the region.<ref name="auto3"/><ref name="auto4"/> The report did not investigate the specific allegation that 12 UNWRA employees were involved in the Hamas-led assault on Israel as that was subject of a separate internal enquiry.<ref name="auto5">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/world/middleeast/unrwa-israel-hamas-report.html|title=Israel Hasn't Offered Evidence Tying U.N. Workers to Hamas, Review Says|first1=Cassandra|last1=Vinograd|first2=Patrick|last2=Kingsley|date=22 April 2024|work=The New York Times|access-date=22 April 2024|archive-date=24 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524011841/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/world/middleeast/unrwa-israel-hamas-report.html|url-status=live}}</ref> which on August 5, 2024, found that nine UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the attack on Israel and terminated them. The investigation also found evidence against nine other staff members to be insufficient, and there was no evidence against one additional accused staff member.<ref name="auto2"/>

==Relations 2020 and before==
UNRWA has been criticised by the [[Israeli government]] and politicians for alleged involvement with [[Palestinian militant]] groups, such as [[Hamas]]. In 2004, Israel stated that [[Peter Hansen (UN)|Peter Hansen]], UNRWA's former Commissioner-General (1996–2005) "consistently adopted a trenchant anti-Israel line" which resulted in biased and exaggerated reports against Israel and demanded he be removed. UNRWA has also lodged complaints.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNRWA demands Israel apologize over Qassam accusation |url=https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/10/03/16975731.php |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Indybay |language=en |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127162624/https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2004/10/03/16975731.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:ISM Photos - UNWRA building shelled by Israeli army.jpg|thumb|180px|UNRWA building shelled by Israeli army, 15 January 2009]]

===Al-Aqsa Intifada 2000 – allegations of Israeli interference with UNRWA operations===
During the [[Al-Aqsa Intifada]], which started in late 2000, UNRWA often complained that Israeli [[road closure]]s, [[curfew]]s and [[border checkpoint|checkpoints]] in the West Bank and Gaza interfered with its ability to carry out its humanitarian mandate. The Agency also complained that large-scale [[House demolition in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict|house demolitions in the Gaza Strip]] left over 30,000 people homeless. Israel justified the demolitions as [[anti-terror]] measures.<ref>''The Counter-terrorism Puzzle'', Boaz Ganor, p. 212, Transaction Publishers, 2005</ref>

===November 2002 allegation that an Israeli sniper killed UNRWA employee===
In November 2002, [[Iain Hook]], a British employee of UNRWA, was shot and killed by an IDF [[sniper]] while working in the [[Jenin]] refugee camp, during an operation to locate a Palestinian militant suspected of masterminding a [[suicide bombing]] that killed 14 people earlier in 2002. [[Peter Hansen (UN)|Peter Hansen]], head of UNRWA at the time, criticized the killing: "Israeli snipers had sights. They would have known who the two internationals (non-Palestinians) were. They did not dress like Palestinians."<ref>{{cite news |title=UN relief worker 'refused flak jacket' |issue=13 December |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/4524962.stm |access-date=2008-12-13 |date=13 December 2005 |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=29 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129065054/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/4524962.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Death of UNRWA staff member in Kalandia refugee camp===
In August 2013, UNRWA released a statement that accused Israel of killing one of its staff members and injuring another in the Kalandia refugee camp during a raid. According to the release from 26 August 2013, "UNRWA deeply regrets to confirm that one of its staff members, a 34-year-old father of four, was shot dead by Israeli forces and killed instantly in an operation in Kalandia refugee camp in the West Bank at approximately seven o'clock this morning. Credible reports say that he was on his way to work and was not engaged in any violent activity. He was shot in the chest. Another UNRWA staff member, a sanitation laborer, was shot in the leg during the same operation and is in a stable condition."<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-condemns-killing-un-staff-member-occupied-west-bank?id=1856 |title=UNRWA CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF UN STAFF MEMBER IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK |publisher=UNRWA |date=2013-08-26 |access-date=2015-08-28 |archive-date=16 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150816075111/http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-condemns-killing-un-staff-member-occupied-west-bank?id=1856 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===2014 Israel–Gaza conflict===
{{main|2014 Israeli shelling of UNRWA Gaza shelters}}
{{see also|2014 Israel–Gaza conflict#United Nations}}

During the [[2014 Israel–Gaza conflict]], there were many accusations by Israel and many rebuttals by UNRWA. For example, Israel's Channel 2 accused UNRWA of using its ambulance to transport militants. It retracted that accusation after being confronted with "incontrovertible evidence", in the words of UNRWA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel Channel 2 retracts claim that militants used UNRWA ambulance |url=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=714857 |publisher=Maan News|date=20 July 2014|access-date=5 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808121112/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=714857 |archive-date=8 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Israel damaged or destroyed a number of UNRWA facilities, saying that they were used for war purposes and thus legitimate targets. According to a UN report, Israel struck seven Gaza shelters, which led to at least 44 Palestinians killed and at least 227 injured.<ref name="BBCUNR">[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32479271 Israel struck Gaza shelters – UN report] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229200454/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32479271 |date=29 December 2018 }}), BBC News.</ref> It also said Palestinian groups stored weapons in three schools<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/rockets-found-in-unrwa-school-for-third-time/|title=Rockets found in UNRWA school, for third time|first=Ilan |last=Ben Zion |website=Times of Israel |access-date=5 August 2014|archive-date=2 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802052520/http://www.timesofisrael.com/rockets-found-in-UNRWA-School-for-Third-time/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=CACHE OF ROCKETS FOUND IN UN SCHOOL IN GAZA |url=http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/cache-rockets-found-un-school-gaza |publisher=UNRWA |quote=We condemn the group or groups who endangered civilians by placing these munitions in our school|date=29 July 2014|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=27 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127150158/http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/cache-rockets-found-un-school-gaza|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=UNRWA CONDEMNS PLACEMENT OF ROCKETS, FOR A SECOND TIME, IN ONE OF ITS SCHOOLS |url=http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-condemns-placement-rockets-second-time-one-its-schools |publisher=UNRWA |date=22 July 2014 |access-date=14 January 2015 |archive-date=15 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115114819/http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-condemns-placement-rockets-second-time-one-its-schools |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=UNRWA STRONGLY CONDEMNS PLACEMENT OF ROCKETS IN SCHOOL|url=http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-strongly-condemns-placement-rockets-school |publisher=UNRWA|date=17 July 2014|quote=This is a flagrant violation of the inviolability of its premises under international law|access-date=14 January 2015|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201000303/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-strongly-condemns-placement-rockets-school|url-status=live}}</ref> and likely fired rockets from two of them.<ref name="BBCUNR"/> UN Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] condemned the use of shelters as weapons depots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/sg/en/latest/sg/statement|title=Latest Statements|date=18 April 2016 |publisher=United Nations Secretary-General|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=1 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801084227/http://www.un.org/sg/statements/|url-status=live}}</ref>

UNRWA schools and personnel were in the line of fire during the war, even as 290,000 people were staying in UNRWA schools being used as shelters.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}}

During one of the many ceasefires in the war, UNRWA announced nine UNRWA staff members were killed in [[2014 Israeli shelling of UNRWA Gaza shelters|Israeli shelling of shelters]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.el-balad.com/1081183|title=UNRWA mourns nine officials killed in Gaza|publisher=el-balad.com|access-date=3 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408043805/http://www.el-balad.com/1081183|archive-date=8 April 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===2017 calls for dismantlement, following tunnel under schools===
In June 2017, UNRWA employees discovered a [[Palestinian tunnel warfare in the Gaza Strip|tunnel]] running underneath the [[Maghazi (camp)|Maghazi]] Elementary Boys A&B School and the Maghazi Preparatory Boys School. According to an UNRWA spokesperson, the tunnel had no entry points in the school premises, but ran underneath the school. UNRWA stated it intended to seal the tunnel. Hamas denied it was involved, and requested clarifications from other armed factions that denied involvement as well.<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/UNRWA-discovers-Hamas-tunnel-under-Gaza-schools-496394 UNRWA DISCOVERS HAMAS TUNNEL UNDER GAZA SCHOOLS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611043347/http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/UNRWA-discovers-Hamas-tunnel-under-Gaza-schools-496394 |date=11 June 2017 }}, JPost, June 2017</ref><ref>[http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=777572 UNRWA finds tunnel underneath schools in Gaza, Hamas denies involvement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123123846/http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=777572 |date=23 November 2018 }}, Ma'an news agency, June 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/06/09/world/middleeast/ap-ml-un-hamas-.html?_r=0 UN Condemns Hamas for Tunnel Under Schools in Gaza]{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, New York Times, AP newswire, June 2017</ref>

Following the tunnel discovery, Israel's prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] stated that UNRWA should be dismantled and reincorporated in other UN agencies. In response, UNRWA's spokesperson said only the [[United Nations General Assembly]] could change UNRWA's mandate, and further stated in Hebrew on Israeli radio that if "UNRWA is gone" from Gaza then "two million people will turn into [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|IS (Islamic State)]] supporters".<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.795006 Netanyahu: I Told American UN Envoy Nikki Haley UNRWA Should Be Dismantled] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611100405/http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.795006 |date=11 June 2017 }}, Haaretz, June 2017</ref><ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-un-idUSKBN1920L0 Israeli PM calls for dismantling of U.N. Palestinian refugee agency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630111854/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-un-idUSKBN1920L0 |date=30 June 2017 }}, June 2017, Reuters</ref>

The peace initiative between Israel and Palestine promoted by the [[Presidency of Donald Trump|Trump Administration]], and overseen by [[Jared Kushner]], advocated the winding down of UNRWA through a campaign to disrupt it, and aimed to strip Palestinians of their refugee status, according to emails leaked to [[Foreign Policy|''Foreign Policy'' magazine]]. According to Kushner, UNRWA "perpetuates a status quo, is corrupt, inefficient and doesn't help peace". Monies to UNRWA should be rechanneled to Arab countries in the area, in the expectation that they would eventually absorb the Palestinian refugees resident in their states. Both Kushner and [[Nikki Haley]] proposed a cut off of US funding for the organization, a proposal opposed by the [[State Department]], [[the Pentagon]], and the US intelligence community, on the grounds that any such move would only fuel violence in the Middle East.<ref name="FP" >Colum Lynch, Robbie Gramer, [https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/08/03/trump-palestinians-israel-refugees-unrwaand-allies-seek-end-to-refugee-status-for-millions-of-palestinians-united-nations-relief-and-works-agency-unrwa-israel-palestine-peace-plan-jared-kushner-greenb/  'Trump and Allies Seek End to Refugee Status for Millions of Palestinians,'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805203210/https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/08/03/trump-palestinians-israel-refugees-unrwaand-allies-seek-end-to-refugee-status-for-millions-of-palestinians-united-nations-relief-and-works-agency-unrwa-israel-palestine-peace-plan-jared-kushner-greenb/ |date=5 August 2018 }} [[Foreign Policy]] 3  August 2018</ref>

===2020 alleged undermining of UNRWA by Israel and the US===

In January 2020, UNRWA said that Israel was building schools and institutions in East Jerusalem, which the UNRWA said is part of its area of responsibility under United Nations rules. The UNRWA said Israel's actions were designed "to compete" with UNRWA and stop it from operating in East Jerusalem.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/unrwa-head-2020-to-be-a-difficult-year-with-fund-cuts-israeli-pressure-614443|title=UNRWA head: 2020 to be a 'difficult' year with fund cuts, Israeli pressur|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com|date=16 January 2020|access-date=3 October 2020|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030102938/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/unrwa-head-2020-to-be-a-difficult-year-with-fund-cuts-israeli-pressure-614443|url-status=live}}</ref> The UNRWA also initially alleged that Israel and the United States were "advocating against funding UNRWA in the European parliaments and elsewhere", but later clarified that it was referring to pro-Israel groups and "had no reason to believe that the U.S. was engaged in lobbying to stop funding the agency".<ref name=":7" />

==Israel–Hamas war==
[[File:Suspended funding.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|Countries that had paused UNRWA funding as of 31 January 2024
{{legend|#008100|Major donors that have suspended funding}}
{{legend|#00ff00|Minor donors that have suspended funding}}
{{legend|#3d62a4|Major donors that have not currently suspended funding}}
]]
On 4 January 2024, ''[[Israel Hayom]]'' reported Knesset members were seeking to halt global funding for UNRWA, with MK [[Sharren Haskel]] stating they sought "to stop funds which are being transferred from various countries to this organization, and remove UNRWA’s mask".<ref name="auto10">{{cite web |title=Israeli parliament group lobbies to halt global funding for UNRWA |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/4/israel-hamas-war-live-bloody-day-for-hezbollah-tensions-with-israel-soar?update=2596988 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=5 January 2024 |archive-date=5 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105041235/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/4/israel-hamas-war-live-bloody-day-for-hezbollah-tensions-with-israel-soar?update=2596988 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 6 January, Noga Arbell, a political strategy researcher and former evaluator at the Center for Political Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated her opinion that, "It will not be possible to win the war if we do not destroy UNRWA. And this destruction must begin immediately".<ref name="auto8">{{cite web |title=Israeli official urges for destruction of UN agency for Palestinian refugees |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/6/israel-war-on-gaza-live-israeli-forces-raid-occupied-west-bank-towns?update=2600376 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=7 January 2024 |archive-date=7 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107004336/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/6/israel-war-on-gaza-live-israeli-forces-raid-occupied-west-bank-towns?update=2600376 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 17 January 2024, UNRWA had already announced the creation of an independent Review Group to be led by [[Catherine Colonna]], former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, to assess whether the Agency is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they are made.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/situation-in-occupied-palestine-and-israel/allegations-against-unrwa-staff|title=Allegations against UNRWA staff|website=United Nations|access-date=24 March 2024|archive-date=22 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422165952/https://www.un.org/en/situation-in-occupied-palestine-and-israel/allegations-against-unrwa-staff|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/20/israel-will-ignore-findings-of-inquiries-into-unrwa-in-gaza-say-diplomats|title=Israeli diplomats pre-emptively attack findings of Unrwa inquiries|first1=Patrick|last1=Wintour|date=20 March 2024|work=The Guardian|access-date=24 March 2024|archive-date=24 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324134825/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/20/israel-will-ignore-findings-of-inquiries-into-unrwa-in-gaza-say-diplomats|url-status=live}}</ref> The report, published on April 22, stated that UNRWA’s neutrality had sometimes been undermined by the use of its facilities for military and political gains and that Israel had not provided evidence of claims that significant numbers of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organisations.<ref name="magramo"/><ref name="Borger 2024 p097">{{cite web | last=Borger | first=Julian | title=Israel has yet to provide evidence of Unrwa staff terrorist links, Colonna report says | website=The Guardian | date=2024-04-22 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report | access-date=2024-04-22 | archive-date=22 April 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422141150/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report | url-status=live }}</ref> 

However, the independent review panel under Catherine Colonna had only been tasked to review UNRWA’s neutrality. It had not been appointed to investigate Israeli allegations that UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 2023 attacks. Antonio Guterres ordered that investigation to be carried out by the [[United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services]].<ref>{{cite web | last=LEDERER | first=EDITH M. | title=Review of UN agency helping Palestinian refugees found Israel did not express concern about staff | website=AP News | date=2024-04-23 | url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-unrwa-united-nations-28a63ddef23efdc4b050b0bcbdb587ff | access-date=2024-04-23 | archive-date=23 April 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423172449/https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-unrwa-united-nations-28a63ddef23efdc4b050b0bcbdb587ff | url-status=live }}</ref> 

On 26 January 2024, UNRWA said that Israel had provided the agency with information alleging that twelve of its employees had participated in the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]]; the agency announced that they would fire the employees in question and referred them for criminal investigation. According to Israel these employees participated in massacres.<ref>{{cite news |title=Several UN Agency Staff Fired for Alleged Ties to October 7 Attack on Israel |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/several-un-agency-staff-fired-for-alleged-ties-to-oct-7-israel-attack/7458679.html |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=Voice of America |date=26 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127075245/https://www.voanews.com/a/several-un-agency-staff-fired-for-alleged-ties-to-oct-7-israel-attack/7458679.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Following Israel's allegations, several major donor countries suspended their funding—including its largest donors, the [[United States]] and European Union—pending further investigations.<ref name=":62">{{cite news |date=2024-01-26 |title=Italy, US, Canada, Australia halt UNRWA funding over Hamas allegations |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/01/26/eu-extremely-concerned-by-alleged-un-staff-involvement-in-7-october-attacks-on-israel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126211343/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/01/26/eu-extremely-concerned-by-alleged-un-staff-involvement-in-7-october-attacks-on-israel |archive-date=2024-01-26 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref> Several international organisations, such as the [[World Health Organization]] and [[Doctors Without Borders]], stated that the decision to suspend funding would exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Gaza caused by the [[Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip (2023–present)|Israeli invasion]].<ref>{{cite web |date=29 January 2024 |title=Israel/OPT: States must reverse cruel decision to withdraw UNRWA funding |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/israel-opt-states-must-reverse-cruel-decision-to-withdraw-unrwa-funding/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130192318/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/israel-opt-states-must-reverse-cruel-decision-to-withdraw-unrwa-funding/ |archive-date=30 January 2024 |access-date=31 January 2024 |publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref> In response, several Western countries—including Spain,<ref>{{cite news |date=5 February 2024 |title=Spain to give UNRWA extra $3.8 mln after key donors suspend aid |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/spain-give-unrwa-extra-38-mln-after-key-donors-suspend-aid-2024-02-05/#:~:text=Spain%20to%20give%20UNRWA%20extra%20%243.8%20mln%20after%20key%20donors%20suspend%20aid,-Reuters&text=MADRID%2C%20Feb%205%20(Reuters),Albares%20told%20lawmakers%20on%20Monday |access-date=18 February 2024 |publisher=Reuters |archive-date=15 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315071606/http://www.reuters.com/world/spain-give-unrwa-extra-38-mln-after-key-donors-suspend-aid-2024-02-05/#:~:text=Spain%20to%20give%20UNRWA%20extra%20%243.8%20mln%20after%20key%20donors%20suspend%20aid,-Reuters&text=MADRID%2C%20Feb%205%20(Reuters),Albares%20told%20lawmakers%20on%20Monday |url-status=live }}</ref> Portugal,<ref name="auto7">{{cite news |date=2024-02-02 |title=Portugal announces extra million-euro donation to UNRWA despite accusations |url=https://efe.com/en/latest-news/2024-02-02/portugal-announces-extra-million-euro-donation-to-unrwa-despite-accusations/ |access-date=2024-03-10 |website=EFE Noticias |language=en-US |archive-date=23 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423112226/https://efe.com/en/latest-news/2024-02-02/portugal-announces-extra-million-euro-donation-to-unrwa-despite-accusations/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Donn |first=Natasha |date=5 February 2024 |title=Portugal bucks trend, contributing million euros to UN agency for Palestinians |url=https://www.portugalresident.com/portugal-bucks-trend-contributing-million-euros-to-un-agency-for-palestinians/ |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=Portugal Resident |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216094000/https://www.portugalresident.com/portugal-bucks-trend-contributing-million-euros-to-un-agency-for-palestinians/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ireland,<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 February 2024 |title=Ireland commits additional €20 million to UNRWA |url=https://www.ireland.ie/en/irish-aid/news-and-publications/latest-news/news-archive/ireland-commits-additional-20-million-to-unrwa/#:~:text=The%20funding%20will%20go%20towards,across%20the%20Middle%20East%20region.&text=Ireland%20has%20pledged%20a%20further,life%2Dsaving%20work%20in%20Gaza |access-date=18 February 2024 |publisher=Irish Aid ([Irish] Department of Foreign Affairs |archive-date=18 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218225550/https://www.ireland.ie/en/irish-aid/news-and-publications/latest-news/news-archive/ireland-commits-additional-20-million-to-unrwa/#:~:text=The%20funding%20will%20go%20towards,across%20the%20Middle%20East%20region.&text=Ireland%20has%20pledged%20a%20further,life%2Dsaving%20work%20in%20Gaza |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=15 February 2024 |title=Tánaiste accuses Israel of 'disinformation campaign' against UNRWA as he pledges extra funding |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/unrwa-head-dublin-tanaiste-meeting-6300262-Feb2024/ |access-date=18 February 2024 |work=The Journal |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216094001/https://www.thejournal.ie/unrwa-head-dublin-tanaiste-meeting-6300262-Feb2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Poland<ref name="auto9">{{Cite web |date=24 April 2024 |title=Poland makes two contributions of USD 2 million in total for UN agencies operating in Gaza, as humanitarian situation of local civilians becomes dramatic - Polish aid - Gov.pl website |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/polishaid/poland-makes-two-contributions-of-usd-2-million-in-total-for-un-agencies-operating-in-gaza-as-humanitarian-situation-of-local-civilians-becomes-dramatic |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=Polish Aid |language=en-GB |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501162543/https://www.gov.pl/web/polishaid/poland-makes-two-contributions-of-usd-2-million-in-total-for-un-agencies-operating-in-gaza-as-humanitarian-situation-of-local-civilians-becomes-dramatic |url-status=live }}</ref>—have increased their funding of UNRWA. By 1 March 2024, the EU restored and increased its funding, while Australia, Austria, Canada, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Finland announced they would resume funding.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boxerman |first1=Aaron |date=9 March 2024 |title=Plan to Deliver Aid by Sea Faces Big Hurdles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/09/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news |work=The New York Times |access-date=9 March 2024 |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512035637/https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/03/09/world/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hurst |first1=Daniel |date=15 March 2024 |title=Australia reinstates funding to Unrwa to provide aid in Gaza |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/15/unrwa-funding-australia-reinstates-gaza-aid-october-7-hamas-claims |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=15 March 2024 |archive-date=16 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516031721/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/15/unrwa-funding-australia-reinstates-gaza-aid-october-7-hamas-claims |url-status=live }}</ref> On 23 March 2024, the U.S. extended its suspension of UNRWA funding until March 2025.<ref name="auto12">{{Cite news |last=Samuels |first=Ben |date=23 March 2024 |title=U.S. officially bars UNRWA funding through March 2025 after Biden signs gov't funding bill into law |url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-03-23/ty-article/.premium/u-s-officially-bars-unrwa-funding-through-march-2025/0000018e-6cfb-d477-abbf-effb6e770001 |newspaper=Haaretz |access-date=24 March 2024 |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240323211016/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-03-23/ty-article/.premium/u-s-officially-bars-unrwa-funding-through-march-2025/0000018e-6cfb-d477-abbf-effb6e770001 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Michael Fakhri, the [[United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food]], said on X that a day after the [[International Court of Justice]], the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, "concluded that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza, some states decided to defund UNRWA for the alleged actions of a small number of employees. This collectively punishes +2.2 million Palestinians."<ref>{{cite news |title=Famine in Gaza is being made 'inevitable', says UN rapporteur |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/28/famine-in-gaza-is-being-made-inevitable-says-un-rapporteur |work=The Guardian |date=28 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128182129/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/28/famine-in-gaza-is-being-made-inevitable-says-un-rapporteur |url-status=live }}</ref> According to an unverified Israeli intelligence dossier, shared with media organizations, 10% of UNRWA's 12,000 staff in Gaza have links to Hamas militants.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Keller-Lynn |first1=Carrie |last2=Luhnow |first2=David |date=29 January 2024 |title=Intelligence Reveals Details of U.N. Agency Staff's Links to Oct. 7 Attack |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/at-least-12-u-n-agency-employees-involved-in-oct-7-attacks-intelligence-reports-say-a7de8f36 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=4 February 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204095145/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/at-least-12-u-n-agency-employees-involved-in-oct-7-attacks-intelligence-reports-say-a7de8f36 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-29 |title=Israeli intelligence docs detail alleged UNRWA staff links to Hamas, including 12 accused in Oct. 7 attack - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-hamas-unrwa-un-staff-intelligence-dossier-oct-7-terror-attack/ |access-date=2024-02-04 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129200149/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-hamas-unrwa-un-staff-intelligence-dossier-oct-7-terror-attack/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Dan |last2=Tétrault-Farber |first2=Gabrielle |title=Israel accuses 190 UN staff of being 'hardened' militants |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-intelligence-accuses-190-gaza-un-staff-hamas-islamic-jihad-roles-2024-01-29/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=8 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508184950/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-intelligence-accuses-190-gaza-un-staff-hamas-islamic-jihad-roles-2024-01-29/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, as of 1 February, the information had not been shared with the UN. Experts said that the Israeli claims remain unconfirmed, and Palestinians have accused Israel of "falsifying information" to tarnish the UN agency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/1/what-is-unrwa-and-why-it-is-important-for-palestinians|title=What is UNRWA and why is it important for Palestinians?|website=[[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]]|date=1 February 2024|access-date=5 February 2024|quote=UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday that Israel has not yet shared the intelligence dossier with the UN.|archive-date=5 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205051802/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/1/what-is-unrwa-and-why-it-is-important-for-palestinians|url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2024, more than 100 family victims of the October 7 attacks filed a lawsuit in New York for $1 billion in damages against UNRWA, accusing the organization of aiding Hamas and letting them use its facilities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 June 2024 |title=October 7 victims sue UNRWA for $1 billion, claiming it aided and abetted Hamas |website=[[The Times of Israel]] |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/october-7-victims-sue-unrwa-for-1-billion-claiming-it-aided-and-abetted-hamas/ |access-date=7 August 2024 |archive-date=13 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240713012141/https://www.timesofisrael.com/october-7-victims-sue-unrwa-for-1-billion-claiming-it-aided-and-abetted-hamas/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In November 2024, UNRWA stated that Israeli military tanks had destroyed their office in [[Nur Shams|Nur Shams refugee camp]] in the West Bank, which the IDF denied.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maher |first1=Hatem |last2=Rabinovitch |first2=Ari |title=UNRWA chief says Israeli forces damaged agency's West Bank office; Israel disputes claim |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/unrwa-chief-says-israeli-forces-damaged-agencys-west-bank-office-israel-disputes-2024-10-31/ |website=Reuters |access-date=3 November 2024}}</ref>

=== Accusations of UNRWA facility misuse ===
In 2003, Israel released to newspapers what the ''[[New York Times]]'' called a "damning intelligence report". Citing interrogations of suspected militants, the document claimed that UNRWA operations at the time had been used as a cover for Palestinian militants, including smuggling arms in UN ambulances and hosting meetings of [[Tanzim]] in UN buildings.<ref name=wines104>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/04/world/killing-of-un-aide-by-israel-bares-rift-with-relief-agency.html|title=Killing of U.N. Aide by Israel Bares Rift With Relief Agency|last=[[Michael Wines|Wines, Michael]]|date=4 January 2003|work=The New York Times|access-date=2009-03-10|archive-date=22 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122140547/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/04/world/killing-of-un-aide-by-israel-bares-rift-with-relief-agency.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Israel Defense Forces]] released a video from May 2004, in which armed Palestinian militants carry an injured colleague into an UNRWA ambulance, before boarding with him. The ambulance driver requested that the armed men leave, but was threatened and told to drive to a hospital. UNRWA issued a plea<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/31D3F4632D140AE085256E930062213C |title=UNRWA calls on all parties to respect neutrality of its ambulances - UNRWA press release (13 May 2004) |access-date=29 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819102917/http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/31D3F4632D140AE085256E930062213C |archive-date=19 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> to all parties to respect the neutrality of its ambulances.

On 4 February 2009, UNRWA halted aid shipments into the Gaza Strip after it accused Hamas of breaking into a UN warehouse and stealing tonnes of blankets and food which had been earmarked for needy families.<ref>{{cite news |title=UN accuses Hamas of stealing aid in Gaza |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5661823.ece |date=4 February 2009 |work=The Times |access-date=2009-08-06 |location=London |first=James |last=Hider |archive-date=29 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529140504/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5661823.ece |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UN halts aid into Gaza after 'Hamas theft' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/06/gaza-un-aid-hamas |date=6 February 2009 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2009-08-06 |location=London |archive-date=25 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125230202/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/06/gaza-un-aid-hamas |url-status=live }}</ref> A few days later, the UN resumed aid after the missing supplies had been returned.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hamas returns UNRWA's supplies|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3669218,00.html|date=9 February 2009|publisher=Ynetnews|access-date=2009-08-06|archive-date=20 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020023641/http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3669218,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 5 August 2009, the IDF accused Hamas of stealing three ambulances that had just been transferred through Israel to the UNRWA. The UNRWA spokesman denied the claim.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} A week later, Hamas confirmed it confiscated the ambulances due to bureaucratic reasons. A UNRWA spokesman also confirmed this but soon retracted this admission and denied the incident, even publicizing a photo it said was of one its officials with the ambulances.<ref>{{cite web|author=Katz, Yaakov|title=Hamas: We've got UNRWA's ambulances|url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/hamas-weve-got-unrwas-ambulances|date=11 August 2009|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|access-date=2024-02-02|archive-date=2 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202111357/https://www.jpost.com//middle-east/hamas-weve-got-unrwas-ambulances|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the Israel–Hamas war one of the hostages said after having been freed that he had been held in a house of a UNRWA teacher. UNRWA said that it is aware of the claims and is investigating it.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} Additionally, teachers and other educational staff of UNRWA have been reported praising Hamas's terrorism on social media, referring to it as an "unforgettable glorious morning" and a "splendid sight."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=UNRWA school celebrates Hamas's 'jihad warriors' in Gaza - report |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-772282 |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en-US |archive-date=2 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202142743/https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-772282 |url-status=live }}</ref> The IDF uncovered assault rifles, ammunition, grenades and missiles with varying capacities of Hamas, hidden in and underneath UNRWA institutions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-02 |title=Israel-Hamas war: IDF finds rockets, missiles hidden under UNRWA boxes |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-776170 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en-US |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128035950/https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-776170 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Zitun |first=Yoav |date=2023-12-25 |title=Terrorists, weapons found hiding in 2 more Gaza schools |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h100durdpa |access-date=2024-01-27 |work=Ynetnews |language=en |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127180059/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h100durdpa |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Falk |first=Pamela |date=2023-11-08 |title=Israel says these photos show how Hamas places weapons in and near U.N. facilities in Gaza, including schools - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-photos-hamas-gaza-weapons-un-facilities-including-schools/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US |archive-date=26 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126070437/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-photos-hamas-gaza-weapons-un-facilities-including-schools/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-09 |title=Israel-Hamas war: In Gaza school, IDF finds rifle inside teddy bear |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-777286 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en-US |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127180059/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-777286 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 10 February 2024, the IDF said it had uncovered a tunnel allegedly used by Hamas underneath UNRWA's main headquarters in Gaza.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-10 |title=Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-unwra-gaza-tunnels-31f6ca23365e349bcde1332d5028e431 |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=10 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210224201/https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-unwra-gaza-tunnels-31f6ca23365e349bcde1332d5028e431 |url-status=live }}</ref> One chamber contained computer servers, while a separate one housed stacks of industrial batteries. According to the IDF, electricity wires and communication lines ran from the tunnel and were connected inside the UNRWA office building.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martinez |first=Dylan |date=11 February 2024 |title=Hamas had command tunnel under UN Gaza HQ, Israel says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-had-command-tunnel-under-un-gaza-hq-israeli-military-says-2024-02-10/ |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2024 |title=Israel claims Hamas tunnel found under UNRWA Gaza HQ, calls on UN agency head to quit |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/02/11/Israel-claims-Hamas-tunnel-found-under-UNRWA-Gaza-HQ-calls-on-UN-agency-head-to-quit |work=[[Al Arabia]] |access-date=11 February 2024 |archive-date=25 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425133144/https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/02/11/Israel-claims-Hamas-tunnel-found-under-UNRWA-Gaza-HQ-calls-on-UN-agency-head-to-quit |url-status=live }}</ref> Philippe Lazzarini said in response that "UNRWA did not know what is under its headquarters in Gaza". "UNRWA staff left its headquarters in Gaza City on 12 October," he added, "We have not used that compound since we left it nor are we aware of any activity that may have taken place there."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Israeli Army Says It Uncovered Hamas Tunnel Under UNRWA Gaza Headquarters, Weapons in Officials' Offices |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-02-10/ty-article/.premium/idf-says-it-uncovered-hamas-tunnel-under-unrwa-gaza-hq-weapons-in-officials-offices/0000018d-93fe-d57f-a1ef-bbfea7aa0000 |access-date=2024-02-10 |work=Haaretz |language=en |archive-date=10 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210234250/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-02-10/ty-article/.premium/idf-says-it-uncovered-hamas-tunnel-under-unrwa-gaza-hq-weapons-in-officials-offices/0000018d-93fe-d57f-a1ef-bbfea7aa0000 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/11/unrwa-says-israeli-claim-of-tunnel-underneath-its-facility-merits-probe|title=UNWRA refutes Israeli implications of Hamas tunnel below Gaza HQ|website=Al Jazeera|access-date=11 February 2024|archive-date=11 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211115309/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/11/unrwa-says-israeli-claim-of-tunnel-underneath-its-facility-merits-probe|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-11 |title=UNRWA 'did not know' of Hamas tunnels under its Gaza HQ - chief |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-786348 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en-US |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213120250/https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-786348 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the WSJ calls this response "Ostrich defense" and rejects Lazzarini's suggestion that such a sophisticated engineering operation could be completed after UNRWA had moved, in less than three months, amid Israeli bombardment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Board |first=The Editorial |title=Opinion {{!}} Hamas Was Right Under Unrwa's Nose |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/hamas-was-right-under-unrwas-nose-tunnels-gaza-israel-war-f715d219 |access-date=2024-02-13 |work=WSJ |language=en-US |archive-date=11 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211234622/https://www.wsj.com/articles/hamas-was-right-under-unrwas-nose-tunnels-gaza-israel-war-f715d219 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Gilad Erdan]], Israel's UN Ambassador, called for Lazzarini's resignation, because he "didn't want to know".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zitser |first=Joshua |title=A UN agency said it had no idea a Hamas nerve center was directly below its Gaza HQ |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-calls-unrwa-chief-resign-hamas-center-under-gaza-hq-2024-2 |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213120250/https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-calls-unrwa-chief-resign-hamas-center-under-gaza-hq-2024-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Al-Fakhura violence ===
{{Main|Al-Fakhura school incident}}
On 7 January 2009, UNRWA officials alleged that the prior day, in the course of the [[Gaza War (2008–09)|Gaza War]], the [[Israel Defense Forces]] shelled the area outside a UNRWA school in [[Jabalya]], [[Gaza Strip|Gaza]], killing more than forty people. The IDF initially said it was responding to an attack by Hamas gunman hiding in the compound, but upon reexamination, said that an "errant shell had hit the school." Maxwell Gaylord, the UN humanitarian coordinator, stated that the UN "would like to clarify that the shelling, and all of the fatalities, took place outside rather than inside the school."<ref name="ochaopt.org">[http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_gaza_humanitarian_situation_report_2009_02_02_english.pdf Situation report from the humanitarian coordinator 30 January – 2 February 2009, 1700 hours] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225175621/http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_gaza_humanitarian_situation_report_2009_02_02_english.pdf |date=25 December 2016 }}. United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs</ref>

UNRWA has consistently rejected the allegation that militants used the Agency's installations during the Gaza war in 2008–2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/statement-shelling-near-al-fakhura-school-jabalia-camp|title=Statement on the shelling near Al-Fakhura school in Jabalia camp|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=13 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213221123/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/statement-shelling-near-al-fakhura-school-jabalia-camp|url-status=live}}</ref> These accusations have been published by some media outlets, although they are sometimes retracted. In 2012 when on two occasions, Israel Channel Two TV, the most popular network in Israel apologised and issued a retraction of these allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/israeli-channel-two-issues-retraction-after-false-report-about-unrwa|title=Israeli Channel Two issues retraction after false report about UNRWA|website=UNRWA|access-date=11 April 2017|archive-date=11 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411140349/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/israeli-channel-two-issues-retraction-after-false-report-about-unrwa|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/no-rockets-unrwa-schools-gaza-during-gaza-war-2008-2009|title=No rockets from UNRWA schools in Gaza during the Gaza war of 2008-2009|website=UNRWA|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804022425/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/no-rockets-unrwa-schools-gaza-during-gaza-war-2008-2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, UNRWA spokesmen reported in July that weapons were found in three vacant UNRWA schools which had been closed for the summer.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/17/unrwa-investigating-20-rockets-empty-gaza-school-palestinian |title=UNRWA investigating discovery of 20 rockets found in empty Gaza school |work=The Guardian |date=2013-07-17 |access-date=2014-08-13 |archive-date=25 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225134032/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/17/unrwa-investigating-20-rockets-empty-gaza-school-palestinian |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="The Times of Israel">{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/rockets-found-in-unrwa-school-for-third-time/ |title=Rockets found in UNRWA school, for third time, UN agency spokesperson condemns discovery, says munitions expert hasn't yet reached Gaza facility |work=The Times of Israel |date=2013-07-30 |access-date=2014-08-13 |archive-date=2 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802052520/http://www.timesofisrael.com/rockets-found-in-UNRWA-School-for-Third-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Jerusalem Post">{{cite web |url=http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Weapons-found-in-UNRWA-school-for-third-time-in-a-week-369355 |title=Weapons found in UNRWA school for third time in two weeks |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=2013-07-30 |access-date=2014-08-13 |archive-date=12 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812225154/http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Weapons-found-in-UNRWA-school-for-third-time-in-a-week-369355 |url-status=live }}</ref> UNRWA strongly condemned the activity as a "flagrant violation of the inviolability of its premises under international law" and UNRWA staff were withdrawn from the premises.<ref name="rocket">{{cite web|url=http://www.unrwa.org//newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-condemns-placement-rockets-second-time-one-its-schools |title=UNRWA condemns placement of rockets, for a second time, in one of its schools |publisher=UNRWA website |date=2014-07-22 |access-date=2014-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801093947/http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press-releases/unrwa-condemns-placement-rockets-second-time-one-its-schools |archive-date=1 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It appears, however, that UNRWA returned weapons to the local government – meaning Hamas.<ref name="jpost.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Liberman-to-Ban-Israel-outraged-over-UNRWA-turning-over-rockets-to-Hamas-368578|title=Liberman to Ban: Israel outraged over UNRWA turning over rockets to Hamas|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=23 July 2014|access-date=2014-09-14|archive-date=15 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815195740/http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Liberman-to-Ban-Israel-outraged-over-UNRWA-turning-over-rockets-to-Hamas-368578|url-status=live}}</ref>

Even though the claim of the booby-trapped UNRWA clinic proved to be false, it has been repeated on several occasions by vocal UNRWA opponents, including at an official hearing of the [[US House Committee on Foreign Affairs]] on 9 September 2014. During the hearing, "Hamas' Benefactors: A Network of Terror", [[Jonathan Schanzer]] from the [[Foundation for Defense of Democracies]] told the Committee that UNRWA was "allowing for the building of tunnels, these commando tunnels, underneath their facilities in my opinion very much needs to be investigated."<ref>{{Cite web |title=HAMAS' BENEFACTORS: A NETWORK OF TERROR |url=https://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA13/20140909/102629/HHRG-113-FA13-Transcript-20140909.pdf |access-date=20 October 2023 |website=U.S. House of Representatives Document Repository |archive-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024154943/https://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA13/20140909/102629/HHRG-113-FA13-Transcript-20140909.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It is unclear whether Schanzer knew he was misleading the Committee, though he also repeated the assertion at an event hosted by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies entitled "The Israeli–Palestinian Conflict" on 13 August 2014, where he stated there was "at least one booby-trapped tunnel under one of its facilities."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?320980-1/discussion-israel-palestinian-conflict|title=Israeli-Palestinian Conflict &#124; C-SPAN.org|website=www.c-span.org|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801102951/https://www.c-span.org/video/?320980-1/discussion-israel-palestinian-conflict|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Social media and incitement ===
UN secretary-general spokesperson said that more than 90 Facebook pages violating UNRWA social media rules were removed. Some of the posts were made by imposters or former UNRWA employees and some by current UNRWA staff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/press/en/2015/db151020.doc.htm|title=Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General &#124; Meetings Coverage and Press Releases|website=www.un.org|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-date=3 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703133802/http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/db151020.doc.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, an UNRWA spokesperson was quoted in ''[[The Forward]]'' as saying that staff members had been sanctioned, "including loss of pay" and that remaining allegations were "under assessment". He also noted that "In some cases, we have determined the alleged 'UNRWA staff' are not in fact UNRWA employees or are no longer UNRWA employees."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/news/322914/palestinian-un-workers-glorify-violence-against-israelis-on-social-media/|title=Are Palestinian UN Workers Glorifying Violence Against Israelis on Social Media?|website=The Forward|date=20 October 2015|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=2 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302083215/https://forward.com/news/322914/palestinian-un-workers-glorify-violence-against-israelis-on-social-media/|url-status=live}}</ref>

According to [[IMPACT-SE]], 13 UNRWA employees were found to have publicly "praised, celebrated or expressed their support" for the attacks.<ref>{{cite web |title=UNRWA Education: Textbooks and Terror |url=https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/UNRWA-Education-Textbooks-and-Terror-Nov-2023.pdf |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127055109/https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/UNRWA-Education-Textbooks-and-Terror-Nov-2023.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Staff holding of hostages and Review controversy during the Israel–Hamas war ===
A hostage released during the Israel-Hamas ceasefire who was held for nearly 50 days in Gaza, said that he was held captive in an attic of an UNRWA teacher and barely provided any food or medical attention.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-30 |title=Released hostage says he was held by UNRWA teacher in Gaza - report |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-775777 |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en-US |archive-date=25 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425133117/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-775777 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| date         = 3 December 2023| title         = UNRWA fact-checked after calling report about hostage 'unsubstantiated'| url         = https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-776284| location         = Jerusalem Post| access-date         = 3 December 2023| archive-date         = 3 December 2023| archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20231203012059/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-776284| url-status         = live}}</ref> Germany in November 2023 froze funding for UNRWA following findings indicating that UNRWA's teaching materials were glorifying Jihad and teaching hate and anti-Semitism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-28 |title=Germany freezes aid for UNRWA operations in Gaza, amid internal review |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/europe/1701159704-germany-freezes-aid-for-unrwa-operations-in-gaza-amid-internal-review |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=I24news |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203093216/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/europe/1701159704-germany-freezes-aid-for-unrwa-operations-in-gaza-amid-internal-review |url-status=live }}</ref> [[US Congress]] is also reviewing its continued funding of UNRWA.<ref>{{cite news| last         = Debbie| first         = Mohnblatt| date         = 8 November 2023| title         = US Congress to hear report on UNRWA's misuse of US funds to incite hate| url         = https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hksuq4omt| location         = YNET| access-date         = 3 December 2023| archive-date         = 3 December 2023| archive-url         = https://web.archive.org/web/20231203093216/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hksuq4omt| url-status         = live}}</ref>

=== Israeli killing of UNRWA staff ===
As of 22 January 2024, 152 UNRWA employees in the [[Gaza Strip]] were killed since the beginning of hostilities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2024 |title=UNRWA Situation Report #69 On the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem |url=https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-69-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-Jerusalem}}</ref>

In August 2024, UNRWA stated that 207 of its staff members had been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=Aid worker deaths soared after Israel launched latest war on Gaza: UN |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/19/un-reports-gaza-war-caused-major-spike-in-aid-worker-deaths-in-2023 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=12 September 2024 |archive-date=12 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912052707/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/8/19/un-reports-gaza-war-caused-major-spike-in-aid-worker-deaths-in-2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==2024 allegations==
Since 2011 UNWRA has regularly supplied Israel with lists of its employees in order that Israel might be able to vet its staff. Until January 2024, Israel had never expressed any concerns about UNWRA's personnel based on these staff lists.<ref>Julian Borger,  [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report Israel has yet to provide evidence of Unrwa staff terrorist links, Colonna report says] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240422141150/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/israel-unrwa-staff-terrorist-links-yet-to-provide-evidence-colonna-report |date=22 April 2024 }}
[[The Guardian]] 22 April 2024</ref>

A few days prior to 26 January Israel presented allegations to UNRWA saying that twelve employees had been involved with the 7 October attacks; reportedly some had been identified based on footage captured during the attacks, while others had admitted to working for UNRWA under interrogation after being captured. According to Israel, while they had held information on this for some time it was only in the two weeks prior to the allegations emerging that they had connected this information with a second cache of intelligence which "solidified an assessment that the UNRWA employees had been involved in the attack"; this intelligence included footage taken by Hamas militants during the attacks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Magid |first1=Jason |title=Israel wants UNRWA out of Gaza after staffers fired for involvement in Oct. 7 onslaught |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-seek-to-end-unrwa-gaza-activities-after-staffers-fired-for-oct-7-involvement/ |website=The Times of Israel |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127114406/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-seek-to-end-unrwa-gaza-activities-after-staffers-fired-for-oct-7-involvement/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Days before">{{cite news |title=Israel Hamas: UN to investigate claim employees participated in October 7 attack |url=https://amp.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/un-to-investigate-claim-employees-participated-in-october-7-attack-20240127-p5f0ge.html |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127045005/https://amp.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/un-to-investigate-claim-employees-participated-in-october-7-attack-20240127-p5f0ge.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

According to Israel, there is a structural relation between UNRWA and Hamas, these twelve employees are just the "tip of the iceberg".<ref name="structural-relation">{{cite news |last1=Eichner |first1=Itamar |date=28 January 2024 |title=Israel says UNRWA staff implicate themselves, more complicit in crimes |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b100f3oq9t |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128235826/https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b100f3oq9t |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=Ynetnews |language=en}}</ref> Israel also alleges that UNRWA facilities and vehicles were used in the 7 October attacks. Israel said it has compiled a case "incriminating several UNRWA employees for their alleged involvement in the massacre, along with evidence pointing to the use of UNRWA facilities for terrorist purposes".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Abdulrahim |first1=Raja |last2=Barnes |first2=Julian E. |last3=Boxerman |first3=Aaron |last4=Kingsley |first4=Patrick |date=27 January 2024 |title=Major Donors Pause Funding for U.N. Agency as Scandal Widens |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/world/middleeast/pause-funding-gaza-unrwa.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128000754/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/27/world/middleeast/pause-funding-gaza-unrwa.html |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="BBC-Allegations">{{cite news |date=27 January 2024 |title=UNRWA claims: UN chief in aid plea after staff accused of helping Hamas in Israel attack|publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68119268 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127223809/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68119268 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref>

On 28 January, ''Israel Hayom'' reported that Israel had been in possession of the information for an extended time, but had declined to release it publicly as they considered UNRWA to be the only functional entity in Gaza, and that "without it the chaos would be even greater". According to ''Israel Hayom''<nowiki/>'s sources, Israel is uncertain why UNRWA and the United States decided to act on the information now; they speculated that the US action might be because of the [[House Committee on Foreign Affairs]] hearing on 30 January "where even more embarrassing information about UNRWA will likely be exposed".<ref>{{cite news |title=Exclusive: Israel chose to withhold information on complicity of UNRWA for fear of 'chaos' |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/01/28/exclusive-israel-chose-to-withhold-information-on-complicity-of-unrwa-for-fear-of-chaos/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128235857/https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/01/28/exclusive-israel-chose-to-withhold-information-on-complicity-of-unrwa-for-fear-of-chaos/ |archive-date=28 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |work=Israel Hayom}}</ref>

It was further reported by [[Reuters]] that the Israeli intelligence dossier accuses 190 UNRWA employees of being "hardcore" Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants, while overall 10% of UNRWA staff was considered to have some affiliation with those organizations.<ref name="reuters-190">{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Dan |last2=Tétrault-Farber |first2=Gabrielle |title=Israel accuses 190 UN staff of being 'hardened' militants |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-intelligence-accuses-190-gaza-un-staff-hamas-islamic-jihad-roles-2024-01-29/ |access-date=30 January 2024 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=8 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508184950/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-intelligence-accuses-190-gaza-un-staff-hamas-islamic-jihad-roles-2024-01-29/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Israeli dossier===
From 29 January 2024, ''The Wall Street Journal'', ''The New York Times'', ''Sky News'', and the ''Financial Times'' reported on an Israeli intelligence dossier that Israel had presented to the US, and part of which had been shared with them and other media. The dossier alleged that at least 12 UNRWA employees had been involved in the 7 October attacks and that about 1,200 UNRWA employees, 10% of UNRWA's 12,000 employees in Gaza, had links with Palestinian militant groups. Israel detailed individual accusations against UNRWA staff<ref name=":14">{{Cite news |last1=Keller-Lynn |first1=Carrie |last2=Luhnow |first2=David |date=2024-01-29 |title=At Least 12 U.N. Agency Employees Tied to Oct. 7 Attacks, Intelligence Reports Say |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/at-least-12-u-n-agency-employees-involved-in-oct-7-attacks-intelligence-reports-say-a7de8f36?mod=hp_lead_pos1 |access-date=2024-01-29 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129112540/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/at-least-12-u-n-agency-employees-involved-in-oct-7-attacks-intelligence-reports-say-a7de8f36?mod=hp_lead_pos1 |url-status=live}}</ref> which were reported slightly differently in the various press articles.

====Summary of allegations====
''The Wall Street Journal'' reported the accusations against individual staff as follows:<ref name=":14"/>
*That an UNRWA Arabic teacher and Hamas commander had allegedly taken part in the [[Be'eri massacre]]
*That an UNRWA [[social work]]er had allegedly been involved in taking the body of an Israeli soldier to Gaza and coordinated Hamas distribution of trucks and munitions. 
*That an UNRWA teacher was affiliated with Hamas, had photographed a female hostage in Gaza, and worked with another teacher who carried an [[Anti-tank guided missile|anti-tank missile]] in the pre-attack preparations
*That an UNRWA employee had allegedly established an [[Control room|operations room]] for Palestinian Islamic Jihad following the attack
*That Hamas had allegedly instructed three other employees, including an Arabic teacher, to arm themselves near the border
*That another elementary school teacher had allegedly crossed into Israel and was present in [[Re'im]], an area where militants stormed a kibbutz, [[Battle of Re'im|a military base]], and [[Re'im music festival massacre|a music festival]]

''The New York Times'' reported the allegations against individuals somewhat differently:<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-29 |title=NYT: UNRWA employees accused of kidnapping woman, taking part in kibbutz massacre |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/nyt-unrwa-employees-accused-of-kidnapping-woman-taking-part-in-kibbutz-massacre/ |access-date=2024-01-29 |work=The Times of Israel |archive-date=2024-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129041510/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/nyt-unrwa-employees-accused-of-kidnapping-woman-taking-part-in-kibbutz-massacre/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="specific-allegations">{{cite news |title=Details Emerge on U.N. Workers Accused of Aiding Hamas Raid |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/28/world/middleeast/gaza-unrwa-hamas-israel.html |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129014231/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/28/world/middleeast/gaza-unrwa-hamas-israel.html |url-status=live |last1=Bergman |first1=Ronen |last2=Kingsley |first2=Patrick |date=29 January 2024}}</ref> 
*That seven of the accused were teachers at UNRWA schools
*That two worked at schools in other capacities
*That a clerk, a social worker, and a storeroom manager also participated in the 7 October attacks
*That ten UNRWA staff were members of Hamas, and an eleventh was a member of [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]]
*That a school counselor from [[Khan Younis]] abducted a woman from Israel in collaboration with his son
*That a social worker from [[Nuseirat refugee camp|Nuseirat]] distributed ammunition and coordinated vehicles during the attack, as well assisted in bringing the dead body of an Israeli soldier to Gaza
*That an employee participated in a massacre that left 97 dead, possibly in reference to the [[Be'eri massacre]]

====Intelligence gathering methods====
The dossier said that Israel had gathered the intelligence information via [[Signals intelligence|signal intelligence]], [[Mobile phone tracking|cellphone tracking data]], interrogations of captured Hamas militants, and documents recovered from dead militants.<ref name=":14" /> ''The New York Times'' reported more specifics: that the dossier said that Israeli intelligence had traced the movement of six of the employees inside Israel through their cell phones. Others, according to Israel, had phone calls intercepted in which they discussed their participation in the attacks, while three others received text messages ordering them to report to muster points, including one who was ordered to bring [[rocket propelled grenades]] that they had stored in their home.<ref name="specific-allegations" />

====US intelligence assessment====
In a 21 February 2024 article titled "U.S. Finds Some Israeli Claims on U.N. Staff Likely, Others Not", ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported on a US intelligence assessment which said it could not verify Israel's claims that 10% of UNRWA staff have some kind of "link" to militants but did it not dispute the accusations per se. It had "low confidence" in, but found "credible", claims about individual staff at UNRWA.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Youssef |first1=Nancy A. |last2=Malsin |first2=Jared |last3=Strobel |first3=Warren P. |title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} U.S. Finds Some Israeli Claims on U.N. Staff Likely, Others Not |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-finds-claims-that-u-n-aid-agency-staff-took-part-in-hamas-attack-credible-957b747e |access-date=26 February 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=21 February 2024 |archive-date=26 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226001542/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/u-s-finds-claims-that-u-n-aid-agency-staff-took-part-in-hamas-attack-credible-957b747e |url-status=live }}</ref> In mid-April 2024 US Senator [[Chris Van Hollen]] told [[Nicholas Kristof]] that US intelligence had nothing to support Israel's claim that UNWRA is a branch of Hamas, a claim he dismissed as an outright lie.<ref>[[Nicholas Kristof]] [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/19/opinion/biden-gaza-war.html  'How Joe Biden Lost His Way in Gaza,'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240419111125/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/19/opinion/biden-gaza-war.html |date=19 April 2024 }}  [[New York Times]]  19 April 2024:' “They’ve been saying UNRWA is an arm of Hamas,” Senator Van Hollen told me. “There’s nothing — nothing! — in the intelligence to support that claim. That’s a flat-out lie”.'</ref>

====Criticism of ''The Wall Street Journal'' article ====
On 28 January 2024, in an article titled "Details Emerge on U.N. Workers Accused of Aiding Hamas Raid", ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported on allegations made in an Israeli intelligence dossier about some UNRWA employees.<ref name="NYT Jan 28 2024">{{cite news |title=Details Emerge on U.N. Workers Accused of Aiding Hamas Raid |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/28/world/middleeast/gaza-unrwa-hamas-israel.html |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129014231/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/28/world/middleeast/gaza-unrwa-hamas-israel.html |url-status=live |last1=Bergman |first1=Ronen |last2=Kingsley |first2=Patrick |date=28 January 2024}}</ref> On 29 January, in an article titled, "At Least 12 U.N. Agency Employees Involved in Oct. 7 Attacks, Intelligence Reports Say", ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' also reported on allegations made in the Israeli intelligence dossier about some UNRWA employees.<ref name="WSJ Jan 29 2024">{{Cite news |last1=Keller-Lynn |first1=Carrie |last2=Luhnow |first2=David |date=2024-01-29 |title=At Least 12 U.N. Agency Employees Tied to Oct. 7 Attacks, Intelligence Reports Say |url=https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/at-least-12-u-n-agency-employees-involved-in-oct-7-attacks-intelligence-reports-say-a7de8f36 |access-date=2024-01-29 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129112540/https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/at-least-12-u-n-agency-employees-involved-in-oct-7-attacks-intelligence-reports-say-a7de8f36?mod=hp_lead_pos1 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 30 January, ''[[Sky News]]'' also reviewed the Israeli intelligence report and reported on the allegations.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |last1=Bunkall |first1=Alistair |title=Israeli intelligence report claims four UNRWA staff in Gaza involved in Hamas kidnappings |url=https://news.sky.com/story/israeli-intelligence-report-claims-four-unrwa-staff-in-gaza-involved-in-hamas-kidnappings-13059967 |publisher=Sky News |access-date=1 February 2024 |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131024310/https://news.sky.com/story/israeli-intelligence-report-claims-four-unrwa-staff-in-gaza-involved-in-hamas-kidnappings-13059967 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 February 2024, on the [[Al-Jazeera English]] current affairs programme ''[[The Listening Post]]'', Palestinian rights lawyer [[Diana Buttu]] opined that the "problem with these types of allegations is that they adopt the Israeli narrative without questioning or second-guessing it".<ref name=aljazwsj>{{cite AV media |title=Why is Israel targeting key UN agency UNRWA in Gaza? |work=The Listening Post |at=00':26" |via=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8kur583Vl0 |publisher=Al-Jazeera English |access-date=26 February 2024 |language=en |date=3 February 2024 |archive-date=26 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226222306/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8kur583Vl0 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jeremy Scahill]] criticized ''The Wall Street Journal'' for publishing what he described as "unsubstantiated allegations".<ref>{{cite news |title=Biden Stands at the Precipice of a Greater War in the Middle East and His Political Future |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/01/31/intercepted-podcast-biden-middle-east-war/ |access-date=24 February 2024 |work=The Intercept |date=31 January 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206205858/https://theintercept.com/2024/01/31/intercepted-podcast-biden-middle-east-war/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In an internal email, Elena Cherney, the WSJ chief news editor, wrote that "the Israeli claims haven’t been backed up by solid evidence", but that the WSJ continued to stand by its reporting on Israel's claims. WSJ reporters tried and failed to confirm the 10 percent figure.<ref>{{cite web | last=Tani | first=Max | title=Journal still can't confirm January story about UN agency for Palestinians | website=Semafor | date=2024-08-04 | url=https://www.semafor.com/article/08/04/2024/journal-still-cant-confirm-january-story-about-un-agency-for-palestinians | access-date=2024-08-07 | archive-date=6 August 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806013005/https://www.semafor.com/article/08/04/2024/journal-still-cant-confirm-january-story-about-un-agency-for-palestinians | url-status=live }}</ref>

====UK media disputing Israeli intelligence====
On 30 January 2024, ''[[Sky News]]'' published a report on the Israeli dossier that had alleged staff involvement with Hamas. According to ''Sky'', the report alleged that six UNRWA employees had been involved with the 7 October attacks, but that "the Israeli intelligence documents make several claims that Sky News has not seen proof of and many of the claims, even if true, do not directly implicate UNRWA."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bunkall |first1=Alistair |title=Israeli intelligence report claims four UNRWA staff in Gaza involved in Hamas kidnappings |url=https://news.sky.com/story/israeli-intelligence-report-claims-four-unrwa-staff-in-gaza-involved-in-hamas-kidnappings-13059967 |website=Sky News |access-date=5 February 2024 |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131024310/https://news.sky.com/story/israeli-intelligence-report-claims-four-unrwa-staff-in-gaza-involved-in-hamas-kidnappings-13059967 |url-status=live}}</ref> 

[[File:Evidence_that_Channel_4_obtained_that_Israel_provided_in_accusations_of_UNRWA_employing_Hamas_operatives.png|thumb|right|A page from the document obtained by the UK's Channel 4 News in Feb. 2024 that Israel provided to other governments, claiming that UNRWA employees were Hamas/[[Palestinian Islamic Jihad|PIJ]] operatives, but which did not detail any supporting evidence, if it exists.|225x225px]]
On 5 February 2024, [[Channel 4]] said that the six-page dossier contains no evidence to support Israel's claim other than a statement that "From intelligence information, documents and identity cards seized during the course of the fighting, it is now possible to flag around 190 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist operatives who serve as UNRWA employees. More than 10 UNRWA staffers took part in the events of October 7."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-02-07/ty-article/unproven-allegations-u-k-channel-4-slams-israels-charge-against-unrwa/0000018d-837c-d636-adef-cffe76790000|title='Unproven Allegations': U.K.'s Channel 4 Slams Israel's Charge Against UNRWA|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=7 February 2024|archive-date=7 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207172553/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-02-07/ty-article/unproven-allegations-u-k-channel-4-slams-israels-charge-against-unrwa/0000018d-837c-d636-adef-cffe76790000|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 February, the ''[[Financial Times]]'' stated that Israel's intelligence assessment was based on smartphone intercepts and captured identity cards, and concluded that it "provides no evidence for the claims".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Srivastava |first1=Mehul |last2=England |first2=Andrew |title=Head of UN agency for Palestinians defies Israeli calls to quit |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e326a1d3-7b45-4609-8179-dfb6a66abae9 |website=Financial Times |access-date=5 February 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204163701/https://www.ft.com/content/e326a1d3-7b45-4609-8179-dfb6a66abae9 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Footage===
Israel released footage from 7 October showing a man identified as Faisal Ali Musalam Naami, an UNRWA worker, entering Kibbutz Beeri in a SUV shortly after 9:30&nbsp;a.m. Naami alongside another person in the SUV is shown to lift and put the body of an Israeli into the trunk of his SUV before looting the belongings of dead Israelis.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fabian |first=Emanuel |date=18 February 2024 |title=Video shows UNRWA social worker abducting body of Israeli on Oct. 7 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/video-shows-unrwa-social-worker-abducting-body-of-israeli-on-oct-7/ |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |access-date=20 February 2024 |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220212430/https://www.timesofisrael.com/video-shows-unrwa-social-worker-abducting-body-of-israeli-on-oct-7/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 February 2024 |title=Israel presents video allegedly showing UN aid worker taking body of Israeli on Oct. 7 |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-presents-video-allegedly-showing-un-aid-worker-taking-body-israeli-oct-7-2024-02-17/ |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' investigated the claims and confirmed that facial recognition is a match and requested two vehicle forensic experts to analyze Naami's social media photos and managed to capture partial views of a white vehicle which they identified as a 1993-1995 Nissan Terrano II identical to the vehicle used on 7 October in color, make and model and was from the same generation. On 16 October Naami, five of his children and one of his two wives were killed in an airstrike in [[Nuseirat]]. ''The Washington Post''<nowiki/>'s attempts to reach out to Naami's relatives were unsuccessful. An UNRWA coworker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, claimed that he did not know if Naami was a member of Hamas or of his participation in the 7 October attacks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dehghanpoor |first1=Chris |last2=Berger |first2=Miriam |last3=Cahlan |first3=Sarah |last4=Harris |first4=Shane |last5=Lee |first5=Joyce Sohyun |title=Video is said to show U.N. relief worker taking Israeli shot on Oct. 7 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2024/02/16/unrwa-video-oct-7-israel/ |access-date=18 February 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=17 February 2024 |archive-date=18 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240218053111/https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2024/02/16/unrwa-video-oct-7-israel/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Response from UNRWA and the United Nations ===
On 26 January 2024, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated, "The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7."<ref name=":5">{{cite news |date=2024-01-26 |title=US pauses funding as UNRWA staff fired for suspected role in Oct 7 attacks |url=https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240126-us-funding-unrwa-staff-fired-oct-7-attacks |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=France 24 |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126230436/https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240126-us-funding-unrwa-staff-fired-oct-7-attacks |url-status=live}}</ref> He further emphasized, "To protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay", adding that "any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror" would be held accountable.<ref name=":5" />

Lazzarini refrained from disclosing the number of employees allegedly involved in the attacks or the nature of their alleged involvement.<ref name=":5" /> The [[United States Department of State|US State Department]] reported the figure to be 12.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Shurafaa |first1=Wafa |last2=Jeffery |first2=Jack |date=2024-01-27 |title=US pauses funding to UN agency for Palestinians after claims staffers were involved in Hamas attack |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/26/israel-hamas-war-news-01-26-2024/8aa3a518-bc4e-11ee-b176-fe5fd794e716_story.html |access-date=2024-01-27 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240127004549/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/26/israel-hamas-war-news-01-26-2024/8aa3a518-bc4e-11ee-b176-fe5fd794e716_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[António Guterres]], [[Secretary-General of the United Nations]], said on 28 January that accusations had been made against 12 specific employees, and that of those 12 nine had been fired, one was dead, and the identities of the other two were still being confirmed.<ref>{{cite news |title=UN chief urges donors to restore UNRWA funds frozen over Oct. 7 allegations |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-chief-urges-donors-to-restore-unrwa-funds-frozen-over-oct-7-allegations/ |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128235943/https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-chief-urges-donors-to-restore-unrwa-funds-frozen-over-oct-7-allegations/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":12">{{cite news |title=UN chief urges countries not to pull funding over Israel attack allegations |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8576a0f1-a57c-4935-899b-84026f9efc5e |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128014146/https://www.ft.com/content/8576a0f1-a57c-4935-899b-84026f9efc5e |archive-date=2024-01-28 |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=Financial Times}}</ref> In July 2024 the investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services concluded that 9 UNRWA staffers "may have been involved in the armed attacks of 7 October 2023" and their employment would be terminated. In 9 additional cases the evidence was insufficient to support their involvement and in one case no evidence was obtained.<ref name=oios>{{cite news |title=Note to correspondents – on the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigation of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) |url=https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-08-05/note-correspondents-%E2%80%93-the-un-office-of-internal-oversight-services-%28oios%29-investigation-of-the-un-relief-and-works-agency-for-palestine-refugees-the-near-east |access-date=5 August 2024 |publisher=UN |date=5 August 2024 |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805200735/https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/note-correspondents/2024-08-05/note-correspondents-%E2%80%93-the-un-office-of-internal-oversight-services-%28oios%29-investigation-of-the-un-relief-and-works-agency-for-palestine-refugees-the-near-east |url-status=live }}</ref>

Guterres also said he was "horrified by this news",<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2024-01-26 |title=Funding paused as UNRWA staff probed over Hamas attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68104203 |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=2024-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126235548/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68104203 |url-status=live}}</ref> and called the alleged activities "criminal".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-786095 |title=UN chief vows immediate action on 'infiltration of Hamas' in UN |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date=9 February 2024 |author= |accessdate=20 February 2024 |archive-date=25 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525200320/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-786095 |url-status=live }}</ref> His spokesperson [[Stéphane Dujarric]] further stated that the UN chief had directed Lazzarini to lead an investigation to ensure swift termination and potential criminal prosecution of any UNRWA employee implicated in or aiding 7 October attacks.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Tétrault-Farber |first=Gabrielle |date=2024-01-27 |title=UN agency probes staff suspected of role in Oct. 7 attacks |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-palestinian-refugee-agency-investigates-staff-suspected-role-israel-attacks-2024-01-26/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126143141/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-palestinian-refugee-agency-investigates-staff-suspected-role-israel-attacks-2024-01-26/ |archive-date=2024-01-26 |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> On 27 January, the deputy UN spokesperson stated, "UNRWA overall had had a strong record, which we have repeatedly underscored."<ref>{{cite news |title=UN defends UNRWA from Israeli criticism |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/27/israels-war-on-gaza-live-hospital-blackout-amid-khan-younis-assault?update=2653556 |access-date=28 January 2024 |publisher=Al Jazeera |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128031529/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/27/israels-war-on-gaza-live-hospital-blackout-amid-khan-younis-assault?update=2653556 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In a further statement issued on 27 January, Lazzarini described the decision by nine countries to suspend the agency's funding as "shocking" and stated that both people's lives in Gaza and regional stability depended on that support;<ref>{{cite news |title=UNRWA claims: UN agency condemns aid halt over alleged help for Hamas attacks |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68119268 |access-date=28 January 2024 |agency=BBC News |date=27 January 2024 |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127223809/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68119268 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=UNRWA's lifesaving aid may end due to funding suspension: Statement by Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General |url=https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa%E2%80%99s-lifesaving-aid-may-end-due-funding-suspension |publisher=UNRWA |access-date=28 January 2024 |date=27 January 2024 |archive-date=22 May 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240522111709/https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/unrwa%E2%80%99s-lifesaving-aid-may-end-due-funding-suspension |url-status=live }}</ref> he urged the nations to resume funding before UNRWA is "forced to suspend its humanitarian response".<ref>{{cite news |title=UNRWA may be forced to end lifesaving aid due to funding suspension, commissioner-general says |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna136041/rcrd32316?canonicalCard=true |access-date=28 January 2024 |publisher=NBC News |date=28 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129000408/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna136041/rcrd32316?canonicalCard=true#rcrd32316 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to a 28 January statement by [[Francesca Albanese]], the [[UN special rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territories]], the decision to suspend funding could be a violation of the [[Genocide Convention]], and "overtly defies" the provisional rulings in [[South Africa v. Israel (Genocide Convention)|''South Africa v. Israel'']].<ref>{{cite news |title=Gaza: Defunding UNRWA 'may be violating genocide convention' |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-defunding-unrwa-may-be-violating-genocide-convention |access-date=28 January 2024 |date=28 January 2024 |language=en |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128180304/https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-defunding-unrwa-may-be-violating-genocide-convention |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Chris Gunness]], a former UNRWA chief spokesman, called on the [[Arab world]], and in particular the oil-rich [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf states]], to fill the funding gap, saying that they are "making billions each day on oil revenues", and that a "tiny fraction" of that would resolve the funding shortfall.<ref>{{cite news |title=UNRWA says fund cuts by the West 'collective punishment' for Palestinians |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/28/unrwa-fund-cuts-by-the-west-collective-punishment-against-palestinians |access-date=28 January 2024 |publisher=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128095748/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/28/unrwa-fund-cuts-by-the-west-collective-punishment-against-palestinians |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Gunness additionally called the situation a "coordinated political attack" on UNRWA by Israel, stating, "The Israelis have said they cannot win the war on Gaza unless UNRWA is disbanded. So what clearer signal do you want?"<ref>{{cite news |title=Which countries have cut funding to UNRWA, and why? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/28/which-countries-have-cut-funding-to-unrwa-and-why |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=31 January 2024 |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201213615/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/28/which-countries-have-cut-funding-to-unrwa-and-why |url-status=live}}</ref>}} A UNRWA spokesperson said that the funding suspensions would result in it being unable to continue aiding Gazans by the end of February.<ref>{{cite news |title=United Nations head warns halt to aid delivery in besieged Gaza will penalise 'desperate' Palestinians |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-29/unrwa-aid-to-stop-in-gaza-after-october-7-allegations/103399340 |access-date=28 January 2024 |publisher=ABC News |date=28 January 2024 |language=en-AU |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129000447/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-29/unrwa-aid-to-stop-in-gaza-after-october-7-allegations/103399340 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 29 February, the United Nations announced it still had not received any evidence from Israel to support its claims.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Borger |first1=Julian |title=Israel has not yet provided evidence to back Hamas 7 October attack claims against UNRWA, UN says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/01/unrwa-funding-pause-employees-october-7-hamas-attack-claims-no-evidence-un?CMP=twt_b-gdnnews |website=The Guardian |date=March 2024 |access-date=1 March 2024 |archive-date=5 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305170645/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/01/unrwa-funding-pause-employees-october-7-hamas-attack-claims-no-evidence-un?CMP=twt_b-gdnnews |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Allegations of confessions obtained under torture ===
{{see also|Israeli torture in the occupied territories}}
{{excerpt|Torture during the Israel–Hamas war#Torture of United Nations staff}}

UNRWA further alleged widespread [[Torture during the Israel–Hamas war|physical and psychological abuse]] perpetrated by Israelis against [[Mass detentions in the Israel–Hamas war|detained Palestinians]].<ref name="cnn_torture">{{cite news |last=Diamond |first=Jeremy |date=2024-03-04 |title=UN agency accuses Israel of detaining, coercing staffers into false confessions about ties to Hamas |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/04/middleeast/un-israel-confessions-allegations-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |publisher=CNN |language=en |archive-date=8 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508213611/http://www.cnn.com/2024/03/04/middleeast/un-israel-confessions-allegations-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 March, Philippe Lazzarini stated, "The campaign against UNRWA is intended to shift the longstanding political parameters for peace in the occupied Palestinian territory set by the General Assembly and the Security Council, without consulting either body."<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel seeks to eliminate UNRWA's role in protecting Palestinian rights: Lazzarini |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/5/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israeli-attacks-on-aid-seekers-continue?update=2749518 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=8 March 2024 |archive-date=8 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308050637/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/5/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israeli-attacks-on-aid-seekers-continue?update=2749518 |url-status=live }}</ref>


According to UN documents, since the start of the war there have been a large number of incidents of harassment by Israeli security forces of UNRWA in the West Bank.<ref name=GuardianWB>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/19/un-staff-in-west-bank-accuse-israeli-authorities-of-campaign-of-harassment | date = 20 March 2024 | title = Documents reveal alleged pattern of Israeli harassment of UNRWA workers on West Bank | author = Jason Burke | newspaper = The Guardian | access-date = 21 March 2024 | archive-date = 21 March 2024 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240321023627/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/19/un-staff-in-west-bank-accuse-israeli-authorities-of-campaign-of-harassment | url-status = live }}</ref> The alleged incidents included blindfolding and beating of UNRWA workers and long delays in the delivery of medical supplies.<ref name=GuardianWB/>

=== Reactions ===
[[File:UNRWA_funding_status,_June_2024.png|thumb|upright=2|UNRWA funding status (June 2024)
{{legend|#008100|Donors that have suspended funding}}
{{legend|#ACE1AF|Donors that that have restored funding}}
{{legend|#3d62a4|Donors that did not suspend funding}}
]]{{sort under}}

====Table of funder reactions====
{| class="wikitable"
!
! colspan="2" |2022 pledges<ref>{{cite web |date=31 December 2022 |title=2022 Pledges to UNRWA's Programmes (Cash and In-kind) - Overall Donor Ranking as 31 Dec 2022 In USD |url=https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/overall_donor_ranking_2022.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331092434/https://www.unrwa.org/sites/default/files/overall_donor_ranking_2022.pdf |archive-date=31 March 2023 |access-date=16 February 2024 |publisher=UNRWA}}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2024 status
|-
! Country !! Amount (USD)
!% !! Funding freeze announcement !! Date of announced resumption, or funding increase
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || 343,937,718 || 29% || 26 January 2024 || <small>Funding freeze made permanent until March 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Magid |first1=Jacob |title=Israel lauds US ban on UNRWA financing until 2025 under new government funding bill |website=The Times of Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-bans-unrwa-funding-until-at-least-2025-while-leaving-room-for-flexibility/ |access-date=27 March 2024 |archive-date=27 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327185450/https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-bans-unrwa-funding-until-at-least-2025-while-leaving-room-for-flexibility/ |url-status=live }}</ref></small>
|-
| {{flag|Germany}} || 202,054,285 || 17% || 27 January 2024 || <small>Providing €45 million in new contributions for Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank. Following publication of the Colonna review, announced on 24 April 2024 that it would resume funding.<ref name="auto6">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/world/middleeast/germany-un-aid-unrwa-gaza.html|title=After U.N. Report, Germany Says It Will Resume Funding for UNRWA|first=Christopher F.|last=Schuetze|date=24 April 2024|work=The New York Times|access-date=24 April 2024|archive-date=24 April 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240424114438/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/world/middleeast/germany-un-aid-unrwa-gaza.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/unrwa-eur-45-million-in-new-contributions-from-germany-for-services-to-palestine-refugees-in-jordan-lebanon-syria-and-the-west-bank/|title=UNRWA: EUR 45 million in new contributions from Germany for services to Palestine Refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank}}</ref></small>
|-
| {{flag|EU}} || 114,199,150 || 10% || No freeze<ref name="Amnesty International 2024">{{cite web |title=Israel/OPT: States must reverse cruel decision to withdraw UNRWA funding |publisher=Amnesty International |date=2024-01-29 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/israel-opt-states-must-reverse-cruel-decision-to-withdraw-unrwa-funding/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |quote=Update: An earlier version of this article incorrectly listed France and Switzerland as among the countries who have suspended funding to UNRWA. In fact, France and Switzerland (along with Denmark, Poland, the EU and New Zealand) have announced they will wait for the result of the UN investigation to take a decision on suspending funding to UNRWA. |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130192318/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/israel-opt-states-must-reverse-cruel-decision-to-withdraw-unrwa-funding/ |url-status=live }}</ref> || 1 March 2024
|-
| {{flag|Sweden}} || 60,969,987 || 5% || 30 January 2024 || 9 March 2024
|-
| {{flag|Norway}} || 34,180,677 || 3% || colspan="2" | No freeze 
|-
| {{flag|Japan}} || 30,152,202 || 3% || 28 January 2024<ref name="Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 2024 m551">{{cite web |title=Allegations about UNRWA staff members' involvement in the October 7 terror attack on Israel last year (Statement by Foreign Press Secretary KOBAYASHI Maki) |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan |date=2024-01-28 |url=https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_00122.html |access-date=2024-03-09 |archive-date=9 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309194931/https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_00122.html |url-status=live }}</ref> || 29 March 2024<ref name="The Times of Israel 2024 w258">{{cite news |title=Japan restores UNRWA funding but stresses importance of 'transparency and traceability' |website=The Times of Israel |date=2024-03-29 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/japan-restores-unrwa-funding-warns-aid-body-of-need-for-transparency-and-traceability/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |archive-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330025941/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/japan-restores-unrwa-funding-warns-aid-body-of-need-for-transparency-and-traceability/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|France}} || 28,909,838 || 2% || colspan="2" | No freeze<ref name="Amnesty International 2024"/> 
|-
| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}} || 27,000,000 || 2% || colspan="2" | No freeze 
|-
| {{flag|Switzerland}} || 25,534,028 || 2% || colspan="2" | No freeze<ref name="Amnesty International 2024"/> 
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}} || 25,199,080 || 2% || colspan="2" | No freeze 
|-
| {{flag|Canada}} || 23,713,560 || 2% || 27 January 2024 || 8 March 2024
|-
| {{flag|Netherlands}} || 21,189,038 || 2% || 27 January 2024 ||
|-
| {{Flag|United Kingdom}}|| 21,158,281 || 2% || 27 January 2024 || 19 July 2024, announced £21m ($27m) for UNRWA<ref>{{Cite news |last=Landler |first=Mark |date=2024-07-19 |title=Britain says it's restoring funding to the U.N. agency that aids Palestinians. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/world/middleeast/uk-unrwa-funding-palestinians-gaza.html |access-date=2024-07-20 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=20 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720162352/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/19/world/middleeast/uk-unrwa-funding-palestinians-gaza.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-19 |title=UK to resume funding UN Gaza aid agency, David Lammy says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjm9r0w71g8o |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=20 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240720132344/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjm9r0w71g8o |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Italy}} || 18,033,970 || 2% || 27 January 2024 ||  25 May 2024, announced €5m for UNRWA and €30m for Gaza Food aid.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/25/italy-to-resume-unrwa-funding-as-gaza-faces-humanitarian-crisis | title=Italy to resume UNRWA funding as Gaza faces humanitarian crisis | access-date=25 May 2024 | archive-date=4 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240604083305/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/25/italy-to-resume-unrwa-funding-as-gaza-faces-humanitarian-crisis | url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Denmark}} || 15,885,563 || 1% || colspan="2" | No freeze<ref name="Amnesty International 2024"/> 
|-
| {{flag|Australia}} || 13,797,995 || 1% || 27 January 2024 || 15 March 2024
|-
| {{flag|Spain}} || 13,592,803 || 1% || No freeze (increased) || 5 February 2024
|-
| {{flag|Belgium}} || 12,558,653 || 1% || colspan="2" | No freeze 
|-
| {{flag|Kuwait}} || 12,000,000 || 1% || colspan="2" | No freeze 
|-
| {{flag|Qatar}} || 10,500,000 || 1% || colspan="2" | No freeze 
|-
| {{flag|Ireland}} || 8,509,726 || 1% || No freeze (increased) || 15 February 2024
|-
| {{flag|Austria}} || 8,091,406 || 1% || 29 January 2024 || 18 May 2024<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newarab.com/news/austria-unblock-funds-unrwa|title=Austria to unblock funds for UNRWA|access-date=18 May 2024|archive-date=18 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518182403/https://www.newarab.com/news/austria-unblock-funds-unrwa|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Finland}} || 7,807,565 || 1% || 27 January 2024 || 22 March 2024<ref name="Magid Fabian Fabian Berman 2024 z925">{{cite news |last1=Magid |first1=Jacob |last2=Fabian |first2=Emanuel |last3=Fabian |first3=Emanuel |last4=Berman |first4=Lazar |last5=Fabian |first5=Emanuel |title=Finland resumes funding to UNRWA but earmarks portion of money for risk management |website=The Times of Israel |date=2024-03-22 |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/finland-resumes-funding-to-unrwa-but-earmarks-portion-of-money-for-risk-management/ |access-date=2024-03-24 |archive-date=24 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324144649/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/finland-resumes-funding-to-unrwa-but-earmarks-portion-of-money-for-risk-management/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Luxembourg}} || 7,488,329 || 1% || colspan="2" | No freeze 
|-
| {{flag|Palestine}} || 5,760,830 || 0% || colspan="2" | No freeze 
|-
| Other countries || 82,422,588 || 7% || colspan="2" |
|-
| '''All'''|| '''1,174,647,272'''|| '''100%'''|| || 
|-
| Sum of frozen || 805,349,873 || ||  65%|| 45%
|-
| Sum of unfrozen || 286,874,811 || ||  28%|| 48%
|}

=== International community ===
[[Matthew Miller (spokesperson)|Matthew Miller]], spokesperson of the [[United States Department of State|US State Department]], said that "The United States is extremely troubled by the allegations that twelve UNRWA employees may have been involved in the 7 October Hamas terrorist attack on Israel." He further stated that the Department of State has temporarily halted additional funding for UNRWA as it conducts a review of the allegations and evaluates the actions being taken by the United Nations to address them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement on UNRWA Allegations |url=https://www.state.gov/statement-on-unrwa-allegations/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=United States Department of State |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126220923/https://www.state.gov/statement-on-unrwa-allegations/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[United States Secretary of State|US Secretary of State]] [[Antony Blinken]] stated that the evidence implicating some UNRWA staff members in the 7 October attack against Israel is "highly credible". He emphasized the organization's "indispensable" role as a major humanitarian service provider in the region, adding that it is "imperative that UNRWA immediately, as it said it would, investigate; that it hold people accountable as necessary; and that it review its procedures".<ref>{{cite news |date=2024-01-30 |title=Blinken: evidence against UNRWA 'credible,' agency can't be replaced |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/article-784293 |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en-US |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201213736/https://www.jpost.com/international/article-784293 |url-status=live}}</ref> The United States later clarified that nearly all of the money that had been budgeted to UNRWA had already been sent, with the suspension affecting $300,000 of the 121 million US dollars that the US had budgeted for the UNRWA. The State Department also said they hoped the issue would be resolved quickly.<ref>{{cite news |last=Crowley |first=Michael |title=Frozen U.S. Funding for UNRWA in Gaza Is Minimal, State Dept. Says |website=The New York Times |date=31 January 2024 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/us/politics/aid-gaza-israel.html |access-date=31 January 2024 |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131145025/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/30/us/politics/aid-gaza-israel.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following a UN Security Council meeting on 30 January, US ambassador to the United Nations [[Linda Thomas-Greenfield]] said: "There has to be accountability for anyone who participated in this attack on 7 October."  US officials say that funding will depend on a credible investigation and acknowledge that there is no real alternative to UNRWA. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: "Let's not impugn the good work of a whole agency because of the potential bad action here of a small number".<ref>{{cite news |date=30 January 2024 |title=Israeli intelligence prompted U.S. to quickly cut Gaza aid funding |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/30/unrwa-gaza-israel-aid/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=31 January 2024 |archive-date=31 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131171342/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/30/unrwa-gaza-israel-aid/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2024 |title=UNRWA: Key UN Gaza aid agency runs into diplomatic storm |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68123222 |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130172329/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68123222 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Israeli intelligence prompted U.S. to quickly cut Gaza aid funding|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/30/unrwa-gaza-israel-aid/|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=30 January 2024|access-date=31 January 2024|archive-date=31 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131171342/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/30/unrwa-gaza-israel-aid/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=30 January 2024 |title=Israeli intelligence prompted U.S. to quickly cut Gaza aid funding |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/30/unrwa-gaza-israel-aid/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240131171342/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/30/unrwa-gaza-israel-aid/ |archive-date=31 January 2024 |access-date=31 January 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2024 |title=UNRWA: Key UN Gaza aid agency runs into diplomatic storm |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68123222 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130172329/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68123222 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |access-date=30 January 2024}}</ref> In February 2024, US president Joe Biden urged Congress to pass a bill which would ban the United States from funding UNRWA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Biden urges Congress to pass bill with aid to Israel, ban on UNRWA funding |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/13/israels-war-on-gaza-live-jordans-king-urges-ceasefire-in-biden-meeting?update=2705459 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=15 February 2024 |archive-date=15 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215002415/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/13/israels-war-on-gaza-live-jordans-king-urges-ceasefire-in-biden-meeting?update=2705459 |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2024, US Senator [[Chris Van Hollen]] stated Israel's claims about a connection between UNRWA and Hamas were "flat-out lies" and that "Netanyahu’s wanted to get rid of UNRWA because he has seen them as a means to continue the hopes of the Palestinian people for a homeland of their own".<ref>{{cite news |title=US senator says Israeli claims on UNRWA 'flat out lies' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/17/israels-war-on-gaza-live-13-aid-trucks-reach-north-malnutrition-doubles?update=2779322 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=19 March 2024 |archive-date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319032606/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/17/israels-war-on-gaza-live-13-aid-trucks-reach-north-malnutrition-doubles?update=2779322 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nazarro |first1=Miranda |title=Allegations UNRWA collaborated with Hamas are 'flat-out lies': Van Hollen |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4538265-allegations-unrwa-collaborated-with-hamas-are-flat-out-lies-van-hollen/ |website=The Hill |date=17 March 2024 |access-date=19 March 2024 |archive-date=19 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240319033809/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4538265-allegations-unrwa-collaborated-with-hamas-are-flat-out-lies-van-hollen/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Canada]]'s [[Minister of International Development (Canada)|Minister of International Development]], [[Ahmed Hussen]], announced that the Canadian government has temporarily halted additional funding to UNRWA pending investigation of the allegations. Hussen said he expressed Canada's deep concern directly to UNRWA Commissioner-General Lazzarini, adding that "Canada is taking these reports extremely seriously and is engaging closely with UNRWA and other donors on this issue". On 8 February, the Canadian government stated it had still not seen any evidence to support Israel's claims.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dyer |first1=Evan |title=Canadian officials still haven't seen intelligence linking UN's Gaza aid agency with Hamas: sources |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/unrwa-hamas-gaza-canada-1.7107785 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=9 February 2024 |archive-date=8 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208211729/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/unrwa-hamas-gaza-canada-1.7107785 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 March, the Canadian government announced it would resume funding to UNRWA.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cullen |first1=Catherine |title=Canadian government will resume funding to United Nations relief agency for Palestinians: source |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-government-resume-unrwa-funding-1.7134961 |publisher=CBC News |access-date=8 March 2024}}</ref>

[[Australia]] has declared a temporary suspension of its funding to UNRWA. Minister for Foreign Affairs [[Penny Wong]] stated that Australia will align itself with similar actions taken by the US and Canada in halting funding. She expressed Australia's deep concern regarding the allegations.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Josh |last2=Beazley |first2=Jordyn |date=2024-01-27 |title=Australia pauses UN agency funding as staff investigated for suspected role in the 7 October attack on Israel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/27/australia-pauses-un-agency-funding-as-staff-investigated-for-suspected-role-in-7-october-attack-on-israel |access-date=2024-01-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127061725/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/jan/27/australia-pauses-un-agency-funding-as-staff-investigated-for-suspected-role-in-7-october-attack-on-israel |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Italy]] and [[Germany]] have also suspended funding to UNRWA.<ref name=":6">{{cite news |date=2024-01-26 |title=Italy, US, Canada, Australia halt UNRWA funding over Hamas allegations |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/01/26/eu-extremely-concerned-by-alleged-un-staff-involvement-in-7-october-attacks-on-israel |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=euronews |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126211343/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/01/26/eu-extremely-concerned-by-alleged-un-staff-involvement-in-7-october-attacks-on-israel |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite news |agency=AFP-Agence France Presse |title=Germany Says Suspending Funding To UN Agency In Gaza |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/germany-says-suspending-funding-to-un-agency-in-gaza-df4ea2be |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Barrons |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128024053/https://www.barrons.com/news/germany-says-suspending-funding-to-un-agency-in-gaza-df4ea2be |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Office]] released a statement, saying that the UK was "appalled" by the allegations.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |date=2024-01-26 |title=UNRWA Hamas attack claims: UK becomes latest country to pause funding for agency |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68104203 |access-date=2024-01-27 |publisher=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=2024-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240126235548/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68104203 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Finland]]'s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, [[Ville Tavio]], has opted to suspend Finland's payments to UNRWA in light of the allegations. He stated: "We must make sure that not a single euro of Finland's money goes to Hamas or other terrorists. The suspicion that employees of an organisation receiving humanitarian assistance are involved in a terrorist attack is the reason for suspending the payments. The case must be investigated thoroughly."<ref name=":7">{{cite news |title=Finland to suspend its funding to UNRWA |url=https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/finland-to-suspend-its-funding-to-unrwa |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Valtioneuvosto |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127152056/https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/finland-to-suspend-its-funding-to-unrwa |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Netherlands]] announced it will stop financing UNRWA, saying "We are extremely shocked. The accusation is that the attack was committed on October 7 with UN money, with our money."<ref name="Pascoe">{{cite news |last=Pascoe |first=Robin |date=2024-01-27 |title=The Netherlands halts financial support for UNRWA |url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/01/the-netherlands-halts-financial-support-for-unrwa/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=DutchNews.nl |language=en-GB |archive-date=2024-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128024037/https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/01/the-netherlands-halts-financial-support-for-unrwa/ |url-status=live}}</ref>  On 28 January 2024, [[France]]'s [[Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)|Foreign Ministry]] declared that it will "decide when the time comes" regarding its funding, describing the allegations as "exceptionally serious".<ref name=":11">{{cite news |date=2024-01-28 |title=France is latest to suspend UNRWA funding amid 'exceptionally serious' Oct. 7 allegations |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/france-is-latest-to-suspend-unrwa-funding-amid-exceptionally-serious-oct-7-allegations/ |access-date=2024-01-28 |website=[[The Times of Israel]] |archive-date=2024-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128235910/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/france-is-latest-to-suspend-unrwa-funding-amid-exceptionally-serious-oct-7-allegations/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Amnesty International 2024"/>

On 29 January 2024, [[Austria]] announced it will also stop financing UNRWA, with the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Austria)|Austrian Foreign Ministry]] calling the UN agency "to conduct a comprehensive, swift and complete investigation into the allegations".<ref name=":13">{{cite news |date=2024-01-29 |title=Austria joins suspension of UNRWA funds amid October 7 probe |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-784132 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129180617/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-784132 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 29 January, [[New Zealand]]'s [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (New Zealand)|foreign ministry]] announced it would review its annual NZ$1 million funding to UNRWA in response to the allegations.<ref>{{cite news |title=MFAT to review funding for under-fire UN agency accused over Hamas attacks |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/507826/mfat-to-review-funding-for-under-fire-un-agency-accused-over-hamas-attacks |access-date=29 January 2024 |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129045034/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/507826/mfat-to-review-funding-for-under-fire-un-agency-accused-over-hamas-attacks |archive-date=29 January 2024}}</ref> On 30 January, [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]] [[Christopher Luxon]] announced that New Zealand would be suspending funding to UNRWA pending the investigation into the allegations.<ref name="NZ halts funding">{{cite news |title=NZ halts funding for beleaguered UN aid agency |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/507907/nz-halts-funding-for-beleaguered-un-aid-agency |access-date=29 January 2024 |publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129212225/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/507907/nz-halts-funding-for-beleaguered-un-aid-agency |archive-date=29 January 2024}}</ref> On 7 June, [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)|Foreign Minister]] [[Winston Peters]] announced that New Zealand would resume its annual NZ$1 million funding to UNRWA that month.<ref>{{cite news |title=NZ to make UNRWA payment 'on schedule and in coming days' - Peters |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/07/nz-to-make-unrwa-payment-on-schedule-and-in-coming-days-peters/ |access-date=7 June 2024 |work=[[1 News]] |date=7 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607232227/https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/06/07/nz-to-make-unrwa-payment-on-schedule-and-in-coming-days-peters/ |archive-date=7 June 2024}}</ref>

On 29 January, [[Latvia]]'s [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Latvia)|Foreign Ministry]] announced via [[Twitter|X (formerly Twitter)]] that the country has also suspended its funding to UNRWA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Latvia also suspends payments to UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/latvia_also_suspends_payments_to_un_relief_and_works_agency_for_palestine_refugees/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=Baltic Times |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130023359/http://www.baltictimes.com/latvia_also_suspends_payments_to_un_relief_and_works_agency_for_palestine_refugees/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The European Union announced that it was reviewing funding, and did not expect to provide additional funding before the end of February at the earliest.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 January 2024 |title=Gaza aid agency UNRWA 'extremely desperate' as more countries cut funding |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-palestine-unrwa-aid-funding-b2486902.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129202058/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-palestine-unrwa-aid-funding-b2486902.html |archive-date=29 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> [[Josep Borrell]], the European Union's [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy]], said the [[European Commission]] would "assess further steps and draw lessons based on the result of the full and comprehensive investigation", urging UNRWA to "provide full transparency on the allegations and to take immediate measures against staff involved".<ref>{{cite news |title=Statement by the Commission and High Representative/Vice-President Borrell on allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the 7th October attacks - European Commission |url=https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/statement-commission-and-high-representativevice-president-borrell-allegations-unrwa-staff-2024-01-26_en |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127144554/https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/statement-commission-and-high-representativevice-president-borrell-allegations-unrwa-staff-2024-01-26_en |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6" /> On 1 March, the UN announced it was 50 million euros to UNRWA within the following week.<ref>{{cite news |title=UNRWA 'irreplaceble' says EU foreign policy chief |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/1/israels-war-on-gaza-live-mass-shooting-of-aid-seekers-condemned-globally?update=2743649 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=2 March 2024 |archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301222115/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/1/israels-war-on-gaza-live-mass-shooting-of-aid-seekers-condemned-globally?update=2743649 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Norway]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] announced that they would not suspend funding for UNRWA.<ref name="MEE-Response">{{cite news |title=Palestinian officials denounce US and UK decision to pause Unrwa funding |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestine-officials-denounce-us-uk-pause-funding-unrwa |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=Middle East Eye |language=en |archive-date=27 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127162035/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/palestine-officials-denounce-us-uk-pause-funding-unrwa |url-status=live}}</ref> Norwegian Foreign Minister [[Espen Barth Eide]] said that "UNRWA is a lifeline for millions of people in deep distress in Gaza as well as in the wider region."<ref name="reuters-reversal" /> [[Switzerland|Swiss]] officials said no decision would be taken until the "serious accusations" were clarified.<ref>{{cite news |agency=AFP-Agence France Presse |title=Swiss Aid Payment To UN Agency For Palestinian Refugees In Doubt |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/swiss-aid-payment-to-un-agency-for-palestinian-refugees-in-doubt-08d15150 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Barrons |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127155223/https://www.barrons.com/news/swiss-aid-payment-to-un-agency-for-palestinian-refugees-in-doubt-08d15150 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Iceland)|Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] stated it supported UNRWA's swift investigation and that its "crucial work under the current dire circumstances must continue".<ref>{{cite news |title=Where countries stand on UNRWA funding |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2654152 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130015944/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2654152 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Lithuania]]'s Foreign Minister [[Gabrielius Landsbergis]] said that Lithuania has not yet reached the financial period for making funding decisions and is awaiting the investigation's results before taking any action.<ref>{{cite news |date=29 January 2024 |title=Lithuania not yet decided on aid for UN Palestinian refugee agency – FM |url=https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2182543/lithuania-not-yet-decided-on-aid-for-un-palestinian-refugee-agency-fm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130034312/https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/2182543/lithuania-not-yet-decided-on-aid-for-un-palestinian-refugee-agency-fm |archive-date=30 January 2024 |access-date=30 January 2024 |publisher=[[Lithuanian National Radio and Television]]}}</ref>

On 30 January, [[Sweden]] also announced it would suspend funding for UNRWA. According to TT, [[Johan Forssell (politician, born 1979)|Johan Forssell]], Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, said that "The money… will go instead to other humanitarian organizations".<ref name=":15">{{Cite news |date=2024-01-30 |title=Sweden pauses funding for UNRWA amid charges staff involved in Oct. 7 attack |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/sweden-pauses-funding-for-unrwa-amid-charges-staff-involved-in-oct-7-attack/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130205114/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/sweden-pauses-funding-for-unrwa-amid-charges-staff-involved-in-oct-7-attack/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 March 2024, as part of a package to fund the US government, the US cut all UNRWA funding until March 2025.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-03-23/ty-article/.premium/u-s-officially-bars-unrwa-funding-through-march-2025/0000018e-6cfb-d477-abbf-effb6e770001|title=U.S. officially bars UNRWA funding through March 2025 after Biden signs gov't funding bill into law|first=Ben|last=Samuels|date=23 March 2024|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=24 March 2024|archive-date=23 March 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240323211016/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-03-23/ty-article/.premium/u-s-officially-bars-unrwa-funding-through-march-2025/0000018e-6cfb-d477-abbf-effb6e770001|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/23/budget-deal-unrwa-gaza/ |title=Budget deal slashes U.S. funding for Palestinians' U.N. lifeline |first=Abilgail |last=Hauslohner |date=23 March 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=24 March 2024 |archive-date=24 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324161806/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/23/budget-deal-unrwa-gaza/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Criticism of cutting aid===
Donor states have suspended funding at a time when the people of Gaza depend on critical aid from UNRWA for daily survival.<ref name="theguardian-famine">{{cite news |title=Famine in Gaza is being made 'inevitable', says UN rapporteur |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/28/famine-in-gaza-is-being-made-inevitable-says-un-rapporteur |work=The Guardian |date=28 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128182129/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/28/famine-in-gaza-is-being-made-inevitable-says-un-rapporteur |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ebrahim |first=Nadeen |date=2024-02-11 |title=Why only a trickle of aid is getting into Gaza |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/11/middleeast/why-only-a-trickle-of-aid-is-getting-into-gaza-mime-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-02-20 |publisher=CNN |language=en |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220161215/https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/11/middleeast/why-only-a-trickle-of-aid-is-getting-into-gaza-mime-intl/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2024-01-28 |title=What is UNRWA, the main aid provider in Gaza that Israel accuses of militant links? |url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-un-aid-refugees-29932f8d12c4fa748daa03e3689dc536 |access-date=2024-02-20 |publisher=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220161213/https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-un-aid-refugees-29932f8d12c4fa748daa03e3689dc536 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UN chief urges countries not to pull funding over Israel attack allegations |url=https://www.ft.com/content/8576a0f1-a57c-4935-899b-84026f9efc5e |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=Financial Times |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128014146/https://www.ft.com/content/8576a0f1-a57c-4935-899b-84026f9efc5e |url-status=live }}</ref>

====UN====
Michael Fakhri, the [[United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food]], said on X that a day after the [[International Court of Justice]], the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, "concluded that Israel is plausibly committing genocide in Gaza, some states decided to defund UNRWA for the alleged actions of a small number of employees. This collectively punishes +2.2 million Palestinians."<ref name="theguardian-famine"/>

UNRWA Commissioner-General [[Philippe Lazzarini]] stated: "Our humanitarian operation, on which 2 million people depend as a lifeline in Gaza, is collapsing. I am shocked such decisions are taken based on alleged behaviour of a few individuals and as the war continues, needs are deepening and famine looms. Palestinians in Gaza did not need this additional collective punishment."<ref>{{cite news |title=UN chief urges donors to reconsider UNRWA funding withdrawal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/28/un-chief-urges-donors-to-reconsider-unwra-funding-withdrawal |work=The Guardian |date=28 January 2024 |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129110218/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/28/un-chief-urges-donors-to-reconsider-unwra-funding-withdrawal |url-status=live}}</ref>
In a letter signed with humanitarian organisation leaders, UN [[Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator|Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs]] [[Martin Griffiths]] stated that defunding UNRWA would lead to the collapse of Gaza's aid system, adding: "The world cannot abandon the people of Gaza".<ref>{{cite news |title=UN aid chief warns of 'collapse' in Gaza humanitarian relief over UNRWA |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/31/israels-war-on-gaza-live-severe-hunger-in-gaza-as-aid-trucks-surrounded?update=2664331 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=1 February 2024 |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201061837/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/31/israels-war-on-gaza-live-severe-hunger-in-gaza-as-aid-trucks-surrounded?update=2664331 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Former New Zealand PM and [[United Nations Development Programme]] administrator [[Helen Clark]] stated "this isn’t the time to suspend funding".<ref>{{cite news |title=Not 'the time' to suspend UN relief funding: Former NZ PM |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2653996 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130022602/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2653996 |url-status=live}}</ref>

An unpublished February 2024 UNRWA report detailing allegations of mistreatment in Israeli detention reviewed by ''Reuters'' said some employees released from detention alleged that they were pressured into giving false statements that UNRWA has Hamas links and that staff were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/unrwa-report-says-israel-coerced-some-agency-employees-falsely-admit-hamas-links-2024-03-08/|title=UNRWA report says Israel coerced some agency employees to falsely admit Hamas links|date=8 March 2024|publisher=Reuters|access-date=9 March 2024|archive-date=9 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240509053012/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/unrwa-report-says-israel-coerced-some-agency-employees-falsely-admit-hamas-links-2024-03-08/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Humanitarian organizations====
[[Agnès Callamard]], the secretary general of [[Amnesty International]], stated that the world's richest countries had made a "heartless decision ... to punish the most vulnerable population on earth because of the alleged crimes of 12 people".<ref name="aljazeera.com">{{cite news |title=UNRWA fund cuts 'sickening': Amnesty |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2656056 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129025528/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2656056 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="amnesty.org">{{cite web |title=Israel/OPT: States must reverse cruel decision to withdraw UNRWA funding |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/israel-opt-states-must-reverse-cruel-decision-to-withdraw-unrwa-funding/ |publisher=Amnesty International |date=29 January 2024 |access-date=31 January 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130192318/https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/01/israel-opt-states-must-reverse-cruel-decision-to-withdraw-unrwa-funding/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]], the director-general of the [[World Health Organization]], appealed to donors not to suspend funding to UNRWA and wrote that "cutting off funding will only hurt the people of Gaza who desperately need support".<ref>{{cite news |title=WHO appeals for continued funding for UNRWA |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2655885 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129031926/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2655885 |url-status=live}}</ref> Tedros warned suspending funding would have "catastrophic consequences".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tétrault-Farber |first1=Gabrielle |title=WHO chief says defunding UNRWA will have 'catastrophic' consequences |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/who-chief-says-defunding-unrwa-will-have-catastrophic-consequences-2024-01-31/#:~:text=%22Decisions%20by%20various%20countries%20to,medical%20supplies%20in%20the%20enclave. |publisher=Reuters |access-date=1 February 2024}}</ref> [[Jan Egeland]], the [[Norwegian Refugee Council]] head, called on donors to "not starve children for the sins of a few individual aid workers".<ref name="reuters-reversal">{{cite news |last1=Al-Mughrabi |first1=Nidal |title=UN urges reversal of funding pause for Palestinian refugee agency |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/un-urges-countries-reverse-funding-pause-palestinian-agency-2024-01-28/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=29 January 2024}}</ref>
In a statement, [[Doctors Without Borders]] said, "In the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, and any additional limitations on aid will result in more deaths and suffering."<ref>{{cite web |title=MSF statement on cease of funding to UNRWA |url=https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/msf-statement-on-cease-of-funding-unrwa/#:~:text=In%20the%20Gaza%20strip%2C%20the,meet%20those%20needs%2C%20not%20less. |publisher=Doctors Without Borders |date=29 January 2024 |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130031404/https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/msf-statement-on-cease-of-funding-unrwa/#:~:text=In%20the%20Gaza%20strip%2C%20the,meet%20those%20needs%2C%20not%20less. |url-status=live}}</ref>

====European Union====
On 29 January 2024, [[Josep Borrell]], [[High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy|High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy]], told [[UN Secretary-General]] [[António Guterres]] that funding has not been suspended and the EU will determine funding decisions after the investigation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/unrwa-hrvp-borrell-speaks-un-secretary-general-guterres_en |title=UNRWA: HR/VP Borrell speaks to UN Secretary General Guterres &#124; EEAS |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130035521/https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/unrwa-hrvp-borrell-speaks-un-secretary-general-guterres_en |url-status=live}}</ref> Borrell stated, "We shouldn’t let allegations cloud UNRWA’s indispensable and great work."<ref>{{cite news |title=UNRWA's aid delivery in Gaza 'irreplaceable': EU's Borrell |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/31/israels-war-on-gaza-live-severe-hunger-in-gaza-as-aid-trucks-surrounded?update=2665690 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=1 February 2024 |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201214125/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/31/israels-war-on-gaza-live-severe-hunger-in-gaza-as-aid-trucks-surrounded?update=2665690 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 1 March 2024, the EU decided not to await the outcome of the UNRWA investigation, and instead put in place a €275 million funding package, being restoration of 2024 funding of €82 million, plus €125 million of humanitarian aid for Palestinians for 2024, which UNRWA is not excluded from implementing and another €68 million through international partners like the Red Cross and the Red Crescent. At the same time, the EU agreed with UNRWA reached an agreement with UNRWA on an audit to be made by EU appointed external experts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/952424/eu-resumes-funding-to-un-refugee-agency-for-the-palestinian-population|title=EU resumes funding to UN refugee agency for the Palestinian population|date=5 March 2024|website=The Brussels Times|access-date=6 March 2024|archive-date=10 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410123605/https://www.brusselstimes.com/952424/eu-resumes-funding-to-un-refugee-agency-for-the-palestinian-population|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain)|Spanish Foreign minister]] [[José Manuel Albares]] stated on 29 January 2024 that [[Spain]] "will not change our relationship with UNRWA, although we are closely following the internal investigation and the outcome it may yield for the actions of a dozen people out of about 30,000"<ref>{{cite news |date=2024-01-29 |title=España mantendrá la financiación a la UNRWA tras la investigación sobre la posible colaboración con Hamás de una decena de empleados |url=https://www.eldiario.es/internacional/espana-mantendra-financiacion-unrwa-seguira-cerca-investigacion-interna-curso_1_10874707.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |website=El Diario |language=es |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130020447/https://www.eldiario.es/internacional/espana-mantendra-financiacion-unrwa-seguira-cerca-investigacion-interna-curso_1_10874707.html |url-status=live}}</ref> because the UNRWA is an agency "essential to alleviate the humanitarian situation".<ref>{{cite news |date=2024-01-29 |title=Albares: "España "no modificará su relación" con la agencia de la ONU para los palestinos" |publisher=Onda Cero Radio |url=https://www.ondacero.es/noticias/espana/albares-espana-modificara-relacion-agencia-onu-palestinos_2024012965b7ba20327cdd000192aa80.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |language=es |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130041227/https://www.ondacero.es/noticias/espana/albares-espana-modificara-relacion-agencia-onu-palestinos_2024012965b7ba20327cdd000192aa80.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The same day, Spanish [[Ministry of Social Affairs (Spain)|Social Affairs minister]] [[Pablo Bustinduy]] called out the suspension of UNRWA funds by other western countries "an unjustifiable collective punishment of the Palestinian people".<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=pbustinduy |number=1751946956463546799 |date= |title=La Corte Internacional de Justicia ordenó el viernes medidas inmediatas para impedir el genocidio en Gaza. |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201213743/https://twitter.com/pbustinduy/status/1751946956463546799?s=20 |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2024, [[Janez Lenarčič]], the [[European Commissioner for Crisis Management]], stated, "I call on the donors to support UNRWA – the Palestinian refugees’ lifeline".<ref>{{cite web |title=EU Urges Donors To Fund UN Agency For Palestinians After Review |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/eu-urges-donors-to-fund-un-agency-for-palestinians-after-review-b76a514b |website=Barron's |publisher=Agence France Presse |access-date=25 April 2024 |archive-date=25 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425213407/https://www.barrons.com/news/eu-urges-donors-to-fund-un-agency-for-palestinians-after-review-b76a514b |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Micheál Martin]], the Irish foreign minister, stated, "If you undermine UNRWA and remove UNRWA you essentially remove the [[Palestinian right of return|right to return]]".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tony |first1=Connelly |title=Tánaiste accuses Israel of vindictive punishment of Gaza population |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0423/1445100-micheal-martin-middle-east/ |website=RTE |date=23 April 2024 |access-date=25 April 2024 |archive-date=23 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423190529/https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0423/1445100-micheal-martin-middle-east/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Middle East and West Asia====
The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey)|Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] released a statement that "Suspending aid to UNRWA due to some allegations against a small number of its members will primarily harm the Palestinian people."<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey hopes for review of UNRWA fund freezing by several countries |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2655670 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128144042/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2655670 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Jordanian foreign minister [[Ayman Safadi]] stated that the people of Gaza "shouldn't be collectively punished upon allegations against 12 persons out of its 13,000 staff. UNRWA acted responsibly and began an investigation. We urge countries that suspended funds to reverse [this] decision."<ref>{{cite news |title=Jordan calls on countries to reinstate funds for UNRWA |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2655724 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=29 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128154810/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-aid-cuts-are-collective-punishment-unrwa?update=2655724 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)|Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] stated that it was deeply concerned by the cuts, since the people of Gaza "depend on critical aid from UNRWA for their daily survival".<ref>{{cite news |title=Pakistan says UNRWA funding cuts 'unjustifiable' |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/29/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-vows-to-respond-to-killing-of-troops?update=2659363 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129204717/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/29/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-vows-to-respond-to-killing-of-troops?update=2659363 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Qatari prime minister [[Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani]] stated that the entire organization and its tens of thousands of employees should not be punished due to the acts of a small group.<ref>{{cite news |title='UNRWA cannot be punished': Qatari PM |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/29/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-vows-to-respond-to-killing-of-troops?update=2659540 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=30 January 2024 |archive-date=29 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129194618/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/1/29/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-vows-to-respond-to-killing-of-troops?update=2659540 |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Elsewhere====
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman [[Wang Wenbin]] stated: "We call on the international community, especially major donors, to prioritize the lives of the people in Gaza, reconsider the decision to suspend funding, and continue to support the work of UNRWA."<ref>{{cite news |date=2024-02-01 |title=China backs UN agency in Palestine, urges US, others to reconsider suspension of funds |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/china-backs-un-agency-in-palestine-urges-us-others-to-reconsider-suspension-of-funds/3125306 |access-date=2024-02-04 |publisher=[[Anadolu Agency]] |archive-date=1 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240201190550/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/china-backs-un-agency-in-palestine-urges-us-others-to-reconsider-suspension-of-funds/3125306 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Brazil's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Brazil)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] asserted its confidence in the investigations by the [[United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services]], and rejects the idea that national should freeze funding to UNRWA due to Israeli allegations, especially at a time of severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It noted that funding halts also undermine the fulfillment of the [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ) to ensure humanitarian access to the people of Gaza. It noted the deaths of 152 UNRWA staff in Gaza thus far, and renewed its call for a cease-fire, the release of the remaining hostages, an economically viable Palestinian State to include the Gaza Strip and all of the West Bank including East Jerusalem as its capital.<ref>{{cite web |title=Risk arising from a halt in UNRWA funding |url=https://www.gov.br/mre/en/contact-us/press-area/press-releases/risk-arising-from-a-halt-to-unrwa-funds |publisher=Ministério das Relações Exteriores |access-date=28 February 2024 |language=en |date=31 January 2024}}</ref> A few weeks later, after Brazil's president [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]], whom ''[[Ha'aretz]]'' called "anything but an antisemite", called Israeli actions in Gaza a [[genocide]], Israel declared him ''persona non grata'' and both countries [[Brazil–Israel relations#Lula deemed persona non grata|withdrew their ambassadors]].<ref>{{cite news |title=In a Few Sentences, Brazil's President Erased All His Warm Connections With Israel and Zionism |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-02-21/ty-article/.premium/in-a-few-sentences-brazils-president-erased-all-his-warm-connections-with-israel/0000018d-caab-d7bf-a19d-eebf5c530000 |access-date=28 February 2024 |work=Haaretz |date=21 February 2024 |language=en |archive-date=22 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222013943/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-02-21/ty-article/.premium/in-a-few-sentences-brazils-president-erased-all-his-warm-connections-with-israel/0000018d-caab-d7bf-a19d-eebf5c530000 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Israel ===
On 4 January 2024, ''[[Israel Hayom]]'' reported Knesset members were seeking to halt global funding for UNRWA, with MK [[Sharren Haskel]] stating they sought "to stop funds which are being transferred from various countries to this organization, and remove UNRWA’s mask".<ref name="auto10"/> On 6 January, Noga Arbell, a political strategy researcher and former evaluator at the Center for Political Research of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated her opinion that, "It will not be possible to win the war if we do not destroy UNRWA. And this destruction must begin immediately".<ref name="auto8"/>

[[Israel]]'s [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Foreign Minister]] [[Israel Katz]] stated that "UNRWA will not be a part of the day after", referring to the future of Gaza following the Israel–Hamas war. He added that: "We have been warning for years: UNRWA perpetuates the refugee issue, obstructs peace, and serves as a civilian arm of Hamas in Gaza. UNRWA is not the solution – many of its employees are Hamas affiliates with murderous ideologies, aiding in terror activities and preserving its authority."<ref>{{cite news |date=2024-01-27 |title=Israel wants UNRWA out of Gaza after staffers fired for involvement in Oct. 7 onslaught |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-seek-to-end-unrwa-gaza-activities-after-staffers-fired-for-oct-7-involvement/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=[[The Times of Israel]] |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127114406/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-seek-to-end-unrwa-gaza-activities-after-staffers-fired-for-oct-7-involvement/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Israel's Ambassador to the UN, [[Gilad Erdan]], called on all donor states to suspend their support to UNRWA.<ref name="reuters-reversal"/>

On 31 January 2024, during a meeting with UN ambassadors in Jerusalem, [[Prime Minister of Israel]], [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] stated, "UNRWA is totally infiltrated with Hamas", and called for the replacement of UNRWA with other UN agencies and aid organizations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-01 |title=Netanyahu tells UN envoys UNRWA is 'totally infiltrated' by Hamas, must be replaced |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-tells-un-envoys-unrwa-is-totally-infiltrated-by-hamas-must-be-replaced/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |archive-date=3 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203135044/https://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-tells-un-envoys-unrwa-is-totally-infiltrated-by-hamas-must-be-replaced/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On 4 February 2024, at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu stated: "We exposed to the world that UNRWA is collaborating with Hamas, that some of its people even participated in the atrocities and abductions of October 7. This only strengthens what we have known for a long time — UNRWA is not part of the solution, it is part of the problem. The time has come to begin the process of replacing UNRWA with other bodies that are not tainted by support for terrorism".<ref>{{cite news |date=2024-02-04 |title=Netanyahu: The time has come to replace UNRWA |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-785155 |access-date=2024-02-05 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |archive-date=5 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205114649/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-785155 |url-status=live}}</ref>

''The New York Times'' reported 3 February that Israel did not expect the scandal to result in an international governmental reaction as Israel has long accused the UNRWA of bias and despite opposition to UNRWA some Israeli military officials did not want the UNRWA to be shuttered during a potential humanitarian crisis.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kingsley |first1=Patrick |last2=Bergman |first2=Ronen |title=The 8 Days That Roiled the U.N.'s Top Agency in Gaza |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/03/world/middleeast/united-nations-gaza-unrwa.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb |access-date=4 February 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=3 February 2024 |archive-date=4 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204135750/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/03/world/middleeast/united-nations-gaza-unrwa.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb |url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 February 2024, a group of Israel humanitarian organizations — including [[Physicians for Human Rights–Israel|Doctors for Human Rights]], [[B'Tselem]], [[Breaking the Silence (organization)|Breaking the Silence]], [[Gisha (human rights organization)|Gisha]], City of Nations, [[Machsom Watch|Checkpoint Watch]], and Fighters for Peace — called on donors to restore UNRWA funding.<ref>{{cite news |title=Several Israeli human rights organisations call on countries to restore UNRWA funding |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/23/israels-war-on-gaza-live-local-authorities-report-central-gaza-massacre?update=2727647 |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=24 February 2024 |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224020550/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/23/israels-war-on-gaza-live-local-authorities-report-central-gaza-massacre?update=2727647 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the resumption of funding by most UNRWA donors, Israeli officials expressed concern that the UK and the US might also restore funding, and acknowledged that the Israeli campaign against international funding for UNRWA has failed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-24/ty-article/.premium/top-israeli-officials-acknowledge-failure-of-campaign-to-halt-unrwa-international-funding/0000018f-104e-d97f-abcf-fccf9f300000|title=Top Israeli officials acknowledge failure of campaign to halt UNRWA international funding|first=Amir|last=Tibon|date=24 April 2024|newspaper=Haaretz|access-date=25 April 2024|archive-date=25 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425010637/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-04-24/ty-article/.premium/top-israeli-officials-acknowledge-failure-of-campaign-to-halt-unrwa-international-funding/0000018f-104e-d97f-abcf-fccf9f300000|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Palestinian response ===

==== Palestinian Authority ====
The [[Palestine Liberation Organization]]'s Secretary-General [[Hussein al-Sheikh]] urged countries planning to withdraw funding from UNRWA to reconsider their decision due to significant political and humanitarian concerns.<ref>{{cite news |date=2024-01-27 |title=Palestinian Authority panics, official calls to reverse UNRWA fund cuts |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-783952 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=The Jerusalem Post  |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127110612/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-783952 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Hamas ====
[[Hamas]]'s press office stated via [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] that the group implored the UN and international organizations "to not cave in to the threats and blackmail" from Israel,<ref name=":3" /> and accused what they called "the Zionist entity" of a "campaign of incitement" against UN agencies delivering aid to Gaza.<ref name="MEE-Response" /><ref>{{cite news |date=2024-01-28 |title=Palestinians, Hamas rage online after countries vow to cut UNRWA funding |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-784007 |access-date=2024-01-29 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129002923/https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-784007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Media analysis ===
In an article published on 30 January, ''[[The Economist]]'' concluded: "It is hardly surprising that some members of an organisation that has been embedded in Gaza so deeply and for so long have links to Hamas. But that defence of UNRWA in turn raises difficult questions about whether it is sufficiently neutral, transparent and accountable. UNRWA is probably essential in the short term in order to avoid an even deeper humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Whether it should be an essential part of Gaza's long term future is far less clear".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Is UNRWA complicit or unlucky? |url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/01/29/is-unrwa-complicit-or-unlucky |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130015416/https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/01/29/is-unrwa-complicit-or-unlucky |archive-date=30 January 2024 |access-date=2024-01-30 |newspaper=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

[[The Intercept]] suggested that the timing of the resulting controversy was intended to distract media attention from the [[South Africa v. Israel (Genocide Convention)|International Court of Justice ruling of provisional measures against Israel]], issued on the same day.<ref name="Scahill 2024 r583">{{cite web |last=Scahill |first=Jeremy |date=2024-02-07 |title=Israel's Ruthless Propaganda Campaign to Dehumanize Palestinians |url=https://theintercept.com/2024/02/07/gaza-israel-netanyahu-propaganda-lies-palestinians/ |website=The Intercept |quote=This was a transparent attempt by Israel to distract from the rulings in the ICJ genocide case and to obliterate a U.N. agency that Israel has long viewedOpens in a new tabas an impediment to its goal of denying Palestinians the right to return to the homes and territory from which Israel expelled them. |access-date=8 February 2024 |archive-date=8 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208172324/https://theintercept.com/2024/02/07/gaza-israel-netanyahu-propaganda-lies-palestinians/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

An analysis in [[Haaretz]] stated that UNRWA is "riddled with Hamas", but called the freezing of funds an empty gesture, as foreign governments already knew of the situation. They suggest that just as Israel continues to work with UNRWA, foreign governments will restore funding out of necessity.<ref>{{Cite news |title=UNRWA Is Riddled With Hamas. But Israel Has No Alternative |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-28/ty-article/.premium/unrwa-is-riddled-with-hamas-but-israel-has-no-alternative/0000018d-5122-d3ab-a5cf-53bf4b370000 |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=Haaretz |language=en |archive-date=8 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208152946/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-01-28/ty-article/.premium/unrwa-is-riddled-with-hamas-but-israel-has-no-alternative/0000018d-5122-d3ab-a5cf-53bf4b370000 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===July 2024 list===
A list of 108 UNRWA employees who were members of Hamas and [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad|PIJ]] according to Israel was sent by the Israeli Foreign Ministry to UNRWA.<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel sends UNRWA list of 108 employees it says are Hamas, PIJ, terrorists |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-sent-unrwa-list-of-100-employees-it-says-are-hamas-pij-terrorists-reports/ |access-date=15 July 2024 |publisher=The Times of Israel |date=12 July 2024 |archive-date=12 July 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240712105219/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-sent-unrwa-list-of-100-employees-it-says-are-hamas-pij-terrorists-reports/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Yahya Sinwar and the UNRWA passport===
Following the [[Killing of Yahya Sinwar| killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar]] in October 2024, Israeli media said that a UNRWA worker’s passport was found near him. Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini rejected the allegation in a post on [[Twitter| X]], stating that it was "unchecked information" that was meant to "discredit" UNRWA.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Keefe |first=Ross |date=2024-10-18 |title=UNRWA rejects allegations one of its teachers was killed alongside Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar - Washington Examiner |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/3194542/unrwa-rejects-allegations-teacher-killed-hamas-yahya-sinwar/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |language=en-US}}</ref> The document was an expired passport belonging to a man who had fled Gaza<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-21 |title=Truth or Fake - What we know about the 'UNRWA ID' allegedly found amidst Sinwar's belongings |url=https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/truth-or-fake/20241021-what-we-know-about-the-unrwa-id-allegedly-found-amidst-sinwar-s-belongings |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> and was living in Egypt.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Grylls |first1=George |last2=Marsden |first2=Oliver |last3=Helles |first3=Amal |last4=Dawber |first4=Alistair |last5=Harding |first5=David |last6=Rucker |first6=Sam |date=2024-10-17 |title=Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar killed in Gaza – as it happened |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/israel-hamas-war/article/gaza-url-yahya-sinwar-hamas-leader-killed-israel-airstrike-gaza-latest-news-8kkjmpn6v |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.thetimes.com |language=en}}</ref>

== 2024 Israeli legislation ==
{{main|Israeli ban on UNRWA}}
In July 2024, the Israeli Knesset moved forward with a bill to designate UNRWA as a "terrorist organization".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mackenzie |first1=James |title=Israeli parliament votes to label UN relief agency a terror organisation |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-parliament-votes-label-un-relief-agency-terror-organisation-2024-07-22/ |website=Reuters |access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> The move was met with criticism abroad, with the European Union's chief diplomat [[Josep Borrell]] calling the move "nonsense" and a threat to "regional stability and human dignity".<ref>{{cite web |title=EU foreign policy chief calls Israeli move to outlaw UNRWA 'nonsense' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/eu-foreign-policy-chief-calls-israeli-move-to-outlaw-unrwa-nonsense/ |website=The Times of Israel |access-date=3 August 2024 |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803183312/https://www.timesofisrael.com/eu-foreign-policy-chief-calls-israeli-move-to-outlaw-unrwa-nonsense/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The US State department said the legislative push should be stopped and stated "the attacks that the Israeli government has leveled on UNRWA are incredibly unhelpful."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-defends-unrwa-after-israel-moves-to-deem-it-terror-group/|title=US defends UNRWA after Israel moves to deem it terror group|date=25 July 2024|website=www.euractiv.com|access-date=1 September 2024|archive-date=10 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240910121318/https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-defends-unrwa-after-israel-moves-to-deem-it-terror-group/|url-status=live}}</ref> In a joint statement representing the [[Nordic countries]], the foreign ministers of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden stated they were "deeply concerned" by Israel's proposed legislation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nordic statement on the draft legal bills in the Knesset related to UNRWA |url=https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/nordic-statement-on-the-draft-legal-bills-in-the-knesset-related-to-unrwa/id3064833/ |website=[[Government.no]] |publisher=Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=25 October 2024}}</ref> The foreign ministers of UK, France, Germany, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea stated that restricting UNRWA would have "devastating consequences on an already critical and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation" in the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{cite web |last1=England |first1=Andrew |last2=Zilber |first2=Neri |title=Israel bill to restrict UN relief for Palestinians sparks 'grave concern' |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1ddfa440-c238-43cd-b541-67df4297f7ad?shareType=nongift |website=Financial Times |access-date=29 October 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In a move widely condemned, on October 28, 2024, the Israeli Knesset passed two laws, that within 3 months will [[Israeli ban on UNRWA|ban UNRWA activities in Israel]] and "severs all ties between government employees and UNRWA and strips its staff of their legal immunities". The laws did not designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-un-aid-refugees-16bc0524adc947b95abe25d7d9eca038|title=Israel approves two bills that could halt UNRWA's aid delivery to Gaza. What does that mean?|date=28 October 2024|website=AP News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-10-28/ty-article/.premium/knesset-approves-bills-banning-un-relief-agency-unrwa-from-operating-in-israel/00000192-d49c-d20d-a9da-f6dccbc90000|title=Knesset Approves Bills Banning UN Relief Agency UNRWA From Operating in Israel - Israel News - Haaretz.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gp2ejzpxeo|title=Unrwa: Israel bans UN Palestinian refugee agency, raising Gaza aid fears|website=www.bbc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/29/intolerable-dangerous-precedent-world-condemns-israels-unrwa-ban?traffic_source=rss|title='Intolerable', 'dangerous precedent': World condemns Israel's UNRWA ban|first=Al Jazeera|last=Staff|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Hamas–UNRWA Holocaust dispute]]
* [[Israel and the United Nations]]
* [[UNRWA#Criticism and controversies]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{2023 Israel–Hamas war}}

[[Category:Political controversies]]
[[Category:2023 in the United Nations]]
[[Category:2024 in the United Nations]]
[[Category:2023 controversies]]
[[Category:2024 controversies]]
[[Category:UNRWA|Israel]]
[[Category:2023 Hamas attack on Israel]]
[[Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict and the United Nations]]
[[Category:Criticism of the United Nations]]
[[Category:Controversies in the State of Palestine]]