Israel vows to stop UN agency's activities in Gaza after war
The Hindu
Israel vows to stop UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza, calls for chief's resignation after staff sacking.
Israel vowed on January 27 to stop the UN agency for Palestinian refugees in Gaza from operating after the war, and called for its chief to resign, after the sacking of staff accused of involvement in the October 7 attack.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA)said it had fired several employees over Israel's accusations, promising a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified on January 26.
Donors including Germany, Britain, Italy, Australia and Finland have followed the lead of the United States, which said Friday it had suspended additional funding to the agency over the accusations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini to quit his post. "Mr Lazzarini please resign," Mr. Katz said on social media platform X on Jan. 27 in response to a post by the UNRWA chief warning that funding cuts meant the agency's operation in Gaza was about to collapse.
Mr. Katz had said in an earlier statement that the UNRWA "must be replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development" in Gaza's rebuilding.
Hamas slammed Israeli "threats" against UNRWA on Saturday, urging the United Nations and other international organisations not to "cave in to the threats and blackmail".
Relations between Israel and UNRWA have been strained for years but deteriorated in recent days, with the UN body condemning tank shelling it said had hit a shelter for displaced people in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis.
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