European Union Committed To Continue Funding For UNRWA, Decisions Determined The Results Of Investigation

UNRWA Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini met Palestinian refugees in southern Gaza last November. (Wikimedia Commons/UNRWA/Mohamed Hinnawi)

JAKARTA - The European Union as one of the largest donors of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is committed to continuing funding for the agency, following allegations of involvement of their staff in a Hamas attack on Israeli territory last October, although the decision will be made after the results of the investigation are obtained.

The European Commission said in a statement Monday it would review whether they would continue funding against UNRWA.

"The European Commission will determine UNRWA's upcoming funding decision in connection with these very serious allegations," the commission said in a statement.

"The Commission will review the matter based on the results of an investigation announced by the United Nations and the actions to be taken," he continued.

"It is estimated that there will be no additional funds for the organization until the end of February," the commission said.

Furthermore, the commission will try to balance the seriousness of the allegations with the urgent need for humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, a spokesman said.

"On the one hand, we have very serious accusations, and it is clear that this needs to be investigated seriously and without delay," spokesman Eric Mamer told reporters.

"Secondly, UNRWA is a humanitarian aid partner to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. We are fully aware that assistance to Palestinians needs to continue," he said.

Separately, the commitment to continue funding was conveyed by EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell during a phone call with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

In a press release on Monday, the bloc said the phone call was "to discuss the situation in the Middle East, including very serious accusations against a number of UNRWA staff members."

Borrell praised the "rapid and decisive step" taken by UNRWA when the agency received accusations of its staff members. If the agency's investigation finds out that Israel's claims are true, Borrell said those responsible should be "charged responsibility," as quoted by CNN.

Borrell told Guterres in a phone call on Monday the European Union "continued essential assistance to Palestinians in Gaza relentlessly" as one of the largest donors to the enclave.

"Although the EU's funding commitment to UNRWA has been finalized, future funding decisions will be determined by the results of the investigation," the statement added.

As previously reported, UNRWA said it was threatened with not being able to continue its operations in Gaza, Palestine throughout the region after the end of February, if funding was not continued. it follows the announcement of a number of countries to temporarily suspend their funding of the aid agency, following Israeli accusations.

"If funding is not continued, UNRWA will not be able to continue its services and operations across the region, including in Gaza, after the end of February," a spokesman for the agency said.

It is known that the number of countries planning to temporarily suspend funding for UNRWA is increasing, with Japan and Austria becoming the latest countries, joining France, the United States, Germany, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia and Finland, which have announced the termination in advance.

Apart from the European Union, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium and Kuwait have yet to determine whether to continue or stop funding. Meanwhile, five countries have confirmed that they will continue funding, namely Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Spain, and Saudi Arabia.