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UN secretary-general António Guterres appealed to world leaders to proceed funding the company that aids Palestinian refugees, after a number of international locations suspended their assist following allegations that employees had taken half in Hamas’s October 7 assaults in Israel.

The US, UK, Germany, Italy, Finland, Australia and Canada suspended their assist for the UN’s Aid and Works Company for Palestinian refugees after it mentioned on Friday that it had fired “a number of” workers following data from Israel about their alleged involvement in the assault.

Guterres mentioned 9 UNRWA workers had been fired, one was not alive and that the identities of two extra people implicated within the case had been being clarified.

Whereas he mentioned he was “horrified” by the allegations, which the company is investigating, the UN chief mentioned monetary assist for these in “dire want” ought to proceed.

“Two million civilians in Gaza rely upon vital assist from UNRWA for day by day survival . . . I strongly enchantment to the governments which have suspended their contributions to, at the least, assure the continuity of UNRWA’s operations,” he mentioned.

UNRWA, which has 30,000 workers general and 13,000 in Gaza, is the first company for administering assist and operating faculties and hospitals for Palestinian refugees within the Center East, together with within the occupied West Financial institution and Gaza.

The UK Overseas Workplace mentioned: “The UK is appalled by allegations that UNRWA employees had been concerned within the 7 October assault in opposition to Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK authorities has repeatedly condemned.”

The German overseas ministry mentioned it will not approve any new funding for UNRWA in Gaza till the tip of the investigation, although it has boosted its funding for different worldwide assist organisations.

Antonio Tajani, the Italian overseas minister, posted on social media platform X: “The Italian authorities has suspended financing . . . after the atrocious assault on Israel on October 7.”

Norway mentioned it will proceed its monetary help to UNRWA whereas awaiting the outcomes of the investigation.

“Worldwide assist for Palestine is required now greater than ever,” Norway’s consultant to the Palestinian Authority mentioned on X. “We have to distinguish between what people might have achieved and what UNRWA stands for.”

Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA commissioner-general, urged the international locations to rethink their suspension earlier than the company was “compelled to droop its humanitarian response”.

“The lives of individuals in Gaza rely upon this assist and so does regional stability,” he mentioned in an announcement.

“It might be immensely irresponsible to sanction an company and a complete group it serves due to allegations of prison acts in opposition to some people, particularly at a time of conflict, displacement and political crises within the area.”

Hussein al-Sheikh, the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s secretary-general, warned that the suspension of funding carried “nice political and humanitarian dangers” at a time when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza trusted the company for meals, water and medication.

“We’re in determined want of assist reasonably than the reducing off of essential assist and help,” he mentioned. Kristyan Benedict, of Amnesty Worldwide UK, known as the UK’s announcement “a horrible determination”.

“UNRWA is desperately attempting to help Palestinian civilians dealing with famine and illness in Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment and blockade, and it’s these civilians who’ll be punished by the UK’s determination,” he mentioned.

UNRWA faculties in Gaza shelter a whole lot of 1000’s of internally displaced Palestinians and have been focused by the Israeli navy on a number of events in latest weeks.

The Israel Protection Forces has mentioned that it was responding to fireside from militants on these events.

At the very least 150 UNRWA workers have been killed since Israel started its navy marketing campaign in Gaza.

UNRWA has been a frequent goal of Israel’s criticism that the UN and different worldwide our bodies are biased in direction of Palestinians. Israel has known as for the company’s tasks to be handed over to the UN Excessive Commissioner for Refugees.

Israel Katz, Israel’s overseas minister, wrote on X that his authorities wouldn’t permit UNRWA to be a part of “the day after” in Gaza, a reference to how the enclave can be run after the conflict ends.

“We now have been warning for years: UNRWA perpetuates the refugee problem, obstructs peace and serves as a civilian arm of Hamas in Gaza,” Katz wrote.

Further reporting by Man Chazan in Berlin