Indonesia Regrets Fund Suspension Decisions For UNRWA, Supports Kredible And Transparent Investigations

The UNRWA facility used by Palestinians to evacuate in Gaza. (Source: UNRWA)

JAKARTA - Indonesia regrets the decision of a number of donor countries to suspend funding for the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), when the agency was hit by allegations of links to Hamas as revealed by Israel, assessing the delay would exacerbate the situation in Gaza due to the Hamas-Israeli war.

"Every accusation must be proven. Therefore, a thorough, credible and transparent investigation must be carried out," said a spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lalu M Iqbal in Jakarta, Tuesday, January 30.

"Indonesia regrets the decision of a number of donor countries to immediately postpone financial support for UNRWA before the allegations are proven," he said.

Palestine itself accuses Israel of falsifying information to tarnish UNRWA, which says it has fired several staff and is investigating the allegations.

"The Secretary General of the United Nations has instructed the Office of Internal Oversight Service (OIOS) to conduct an investigation. We are waiting for the results," said Iqbal.

Yesterday, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi also regretted the suspension while attending the ASEAN foreign minister meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos. Foreign Minister Retno said Indonesia regretted the suspension of financial support for UNRWA by several donor countries, when Palestinian refugees desperately needed help.

"Transparent, open and credible investigations into allegations of involvement of several UNRWA employees need to be carried out. However, delaying financial support for UNRWA is a collective punishment for Palestinian refugees," said Foreign Minister Retno.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Retno also expressed Indonesia's concern over the continued worsening situation in Gaza.

He emphasized that Indonesia emphasizes that every human being has the same right to respect, including the Palestinians.

It is known that the United Nations Agency for Assistance and Work (UNRWA) was formed for war refugees in 1948 when Israel was founded in an area that was once British-controlled Palestinian territory.

Israel has long accused UNRWA of perpetuating the conflict by preventing re-residential refugees, and has in the past said that the agency's staff participated in the armed attack.