US secretary of state to focus on Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal; at least 20 killed in attacks on city formerly designated safe zone by Israeli military and now sheltering more than 1 million people, UN agency says
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Halting funds to UNRWA would be “disproportionate and dangerous”, the EU’s foreign policy chief has warned, after Israeli accusations that 12 members of the Palestinian refugee agency’s staff took part in Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel.
Immediately after the allegations were made a dozen countries including the US and Britain suspended funding to the agency, which has sacked the staff accused while others are missing in the conflict and one has been reported dead.
If some doctors in a European hospital were involved in criminal activities, there would be a thorough investigation and all appropriate actions would be taken.
However, no government would ever stop funding the health service, as this would primarily punish the people who receive these services. The wrongdoing of individuals should never lead to the collective punishment of an entire population.
Should UNRWA cease or limit services, which may be the case as early as the end of February, it would significantly aggravate the ongoing dramatic humanitarian crisis. The lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, not only in Gaza, are at stake.
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