EDINBURGH — On Sunday, Scotland First Minister Humza Yousaf
stated that the Scottish government has not paused or withdrawn aid to UNRWA.
اضافة اعلان
In a post on his official account on X, formally known as
Twitter, Yousaf said, “To be clear, the government has not paused or withdrawn
aid to UNRWA. We have previously provided as much as we can within our
financial constraints. We will always seek to do more where we can & urge
others to continue to provide aid to the people of Gaza.”
Scotland clarified its stance after news publications
reported that it had decided to cease funding to UNRWA following allegations by
Israel regarding the involvement of some UNRWA employees in the events of
October 7, 2023.
UNRWA's Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini,
acknowledged that Israeli authorities had provided the agency with information
regarding the alleged involvement of some employees on October 7. However,
Lazzarini did not disclose the number of employees implicated or the nature of
their alleged involvement, Khaberni reported.
Despite this, Israel's spokesperson, Elon Levy accused UNRWA
of publicizing the news at a time when global attention was focused on the
International Court of Justice's (ICJ) order for Israel to prevent genocide
against Palestinians and provide more assistance to civilians in Gaza.
Israel's intensifying
efforts to dismantle UNRWA
The relationship between Israel and UNRWA has been fraught
with tension under various Israeli governments, marked by friction and
conflicting agendas. While Israeli officials believed that UNRWA's presence
perpetuated the conflict, they also recognized its necessity due to the
humanitarian aid it provided to Gaza and parts of the West Bank, which helped
maintain stability in those areas.
Over time, Israel's desire to eliminate UNRWA and its role
intensified. In 2018, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for placing
Palestinian refugees under the UN Refugee Agency and ending UNRWA's existence,
arguing that it served Palestinian interests and perpetuated the refugee issue.
New opportunity
Israel saw an opportunity to dismantle UNRWA during its war
on Gaza, supported extensively by the US and Europe, viewing UNRWA's presence
as perpetuating the refugee issue.
Israeli authorities, including Netanyahu, have long accused
UNRWA of fueling incitement against Israel. The agency angered Israel during
the war by accusing it of targeting civilian objectives, including schools and
medical centers.
Moreover, the ICJ, citing UNRWA reports on Palestinian
suffering, fueled Israel's desire to eliminate the agency and its role.
Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yisrael Katz stated
that Israel would seek to prevent UNRWA from operating in the strip after the
war and urged countries to follow the example of those suspending funding for
UNRWA.
Western support
The US, Italy, Canada, Australia, Britain, and Finland
swiftly suspended their funding to UNRWA, followed by Germany, the Netherlands,
and Finland.
Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani
announced on X, formally known as Twitter, that the Italian government
suspended funding to UNRWA. Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, stated
that they would temporarily suspend payments.
Canadian Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen
said, “Canada has temporarily paused any additional funding to UNRWA while it
undertakes a thorough investigation into these allegations."
The US also announced a temporary suspension of all future
funding to UNRWA, which plays a crucial role in aid distribution to civilians
in the strip amid the ongoing Israeli war.
According to UNRWA's website, the US was the largest donor
to the agency in 2022, contributing over $340 million. The US had previously
suspended support for UNRWA during former President Donald Trump's tenure
before President Joe Biden reinstated funding.
Right-wing pro-Israel groups in the US and Republicans have
long argued for stopping funding to UNRWA, claiming that its monopoly on the
Palestinian refugee issue perpetuates the conflict and dependency culture among
Palestinians.
Israeli agreement
The Western stance received a positive response from both
government and opposition members in Israel despite differences over the war on
Gaza.
Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Galant expressed satisfaction
with the US decision, considering it an important step towards holding UNRWA
accountable. Leader of the Opposition in Israel, Yair Lapid congratulated the
US, Britain, Italy, Canada, Finland, and Australia on their decision to halt
funding to UNRWA.
However, the Palestinian Authority (PA) accused Israel of
conducting a campaign of incitement aimed at liquidating the agency.
A senior UN official cited by The New York Times expressed
concern that UNRWA's loss of funding could rapidly impact its operations,
particularly regarding funding for its 150 shelters housing around 1.2 million
displaced people in Gaza alone.
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