War between Israel and Gaza, live | The Israeli army has claimed to have rescued the bodies of three hostages from the strip. international

Disappointment at the UN as some states have not returned funding to UNRWA

A group of 29 UN experts has expressed “disappointment” that an independent investigation revealed that some states have “yet to restore funding” to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Have done”. There was no evidence of lack of neutrality in its activity. “The independent investigation ordered by the UN Secretary-General, following an increase in allegations since the start of the military offensive on Gaza in October 2023, has shown that claims that a large number of UNRWA staff have links to ‘terrorist organisations’ remain unfounded.” ,’ experts say in a statement.

In his opinion, UNRWA has been “again the target of political attacks at critical moments”, which harms not only the organization, but also the Palestinians in Gaza whom the agency assists. 1.7 million people are internally displaced and need food assistance, shelter, health care, education, water, sanitation and hygiene.

“We support the EU’s call to stop international donors from resuming funding to UNRWA,” the signatories, including Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, underlined. Nicolas Levrat, on minority issues; Margaret Satterthwaite, on the independence of judges and lawyers, and Olivier de Chater, on extreme poverty and human rights.

In his writing, he recalled that 189 agency staff have been killed in Israeli bombings since October 7, 2023, “the highest number of UN staff killed in any conflict since the UN’s founding in 1945.” Apart from the fact that many of their facilities were attacked, surrounded and demolished by Israeli forces, they settled.