Aid workers accused of taking part on 7/10 attack on Israel - appalling !

[Lanabigbanana]

https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/serious-allegations-against-unrwa-staff-gaza-strip

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-palestinian-refugee-agency-investigates-staff-suspected-role-israel-attacks-2024-01-26/

From the Guardian 5 hours ago;

"UK suspends UNRWA support after Israeli allegations The UK has temporarily paused future funding of UNRWA, saying it is “appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel”.
A statement sent to the Guardian by the UK’s foreign, commonwealth and development office said:
'The UK is appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK government has repeatedly condemned.

The UK is temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations.'

We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it."

Apparently the BBC news led with an 8 minute long segment on these unproven unrwa allegations. That's far greater than any coverage they've given to the ICJ ruling that Israel is plausibly committing genocide! I don't know why I pay my tv licence for these fuckers to cherry pick what news they give me. It's blatant and it's disgraceful.

Switzerland shouldn't be on this list - they will be making a decision on suspending aid once the outcome of the investigations is available

This would seem to be a reasonable position to take and wonder why the other countries are acting before all the information is available

It's also true to say that some of these countries have stated that the suspension of aid is 'temporary' presumably like Switzerlands position

.

UNWRA are in an unenviable position wrt Hamas in as much they need to co-operate with Hamas in it's role as the government of Gaza whilst not colluding with Hamas the terrorist group and the overlap between the two 'sides' of Hamas

I can't imagine that Hamas are easy to work with [understatement]

It would be interesting to know for example how much Hamas interfered in vetting employees and how that compromised UNWRA

UNWRA have been critical of Hamas in the past abdicating governing and instead foisting the responsiblities onto them and other NGOs presumably because it's not something they are really interested in

As usual the real problem comes back to Hamas

Is there anything UNWRA could do that would justify suspending their funding? @HeidiInTheBigCity

What do you think are the likely consequences of lack of funding?

Luckily for us the ICJ is not in bed with Hamas and yet agree with SA that Israeli government has a case to answer - note I did the correct thing of stating Israeli government.

Are you suggesting that South African citizens are in cahoots with Hamas.

I am sick to death of the double standards.

Here is another organisation that needs funds;

https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/

I understand that they have already given £200000, half of that into Gaza. They have added 15 new families to their Family Support Programme and are making sure they are directly supported.

The timing of the release of information is so convenient for Israeli Government - one might think they planned this knowing what the outcome would be- to say that they have to let in Humanitarian aid. How can we hamper this and deflect attention from the criticism against us?

The fact that governments are towing in line with this is so disappointing. Give the UN time to investigate or change aid so food / medicines are provided to UNRWA.

Are they going to send in troops to distribute aid then?

@Polka83 Are you suggesting that South African citizens are in cahoots with Hamas?

I didn't say that. The government certainly is. I have no idea what the citizens of SA think.

Do you they have the staff on the ground willing and able to coordinate aid in Gaza- may end up hiring the staff UNRWA hires? After all- who else is going to risk death than those already there.

Please be careful with your language- if you referred to Israel instead of the Israeli government when criticising the latter - you would be being antisemitic.

I can't answer your question.

Maybe e-mail them and ask?

You are proposing them as a solution - I am pointing out an obvious problem

https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/01/11/south-africas-support-for-the-palestinian-cause-has-deep-roots

This.

And I am giving you the route to an answer.

Does that article say South Africans are in bed with Hamas as your original post?
It’s behind a pay wall.

If you’re going to propose a serious solution - consider it’s difficulties too. Why do you think they are not there in Gaza now?

@HeidiInTheBigCity ... "which would be entirely credible, had ANY of these countries - including my own!!! - even so much as threatened to stop sending weapons to Israel. If not before then, at the very least, after the ICJ ruling!

But they have not. Not even a single one of them!"

Why should they? They have legal arms businesses and the ICJ ruling didn't recommend a ceasefire..

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no money in peace.

You may not like that fact but that's the way the world works.

Who is not in Gaza? What are you talking about?

@HeidiInTheBigCity
I am hoping that even the provisional ruling by the ICJ will give strength to legal cases / judicial reviews already in place to see if arms should be sold to Israel. I can see lawyers have suggested thus may be case too on X. It unfortunately takes time that Gazans don’t have.

Yes the timing of this is extremely interesting.

Whether or not the 12 aid workers are guilty or not, that will all come out at some stage, the prisoners statements could potentially have been taken under duress as well. But it’s a collective punishment on Gaza to deliberately withhold aid funding and more people in Gaza will die because of this.
UNWRA have already done the right thing by suspending ( well actually sacking) those accused, so it’s very strange that the western governments have jumped so quickly on this, but very little mention of the possible charges facing Israel which makes them complicit and subject to sanction themselves. I cannot understand it.

The charity you posted - is it currently able to fill gap of 12,000 UNWRA workers in Gaza. I presumed you posted it alternative to UNWRA? Or was your post about the charity irrelevant to this thread?

Even the International Red Cross cannot replace UNWRA infrastructure.

Israel are making it illegal for civilians to be in that area, which will presumably stop those protests.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/amid-protests-to-prevent-aid-entering-gaza-idf-declares-kerem-shalom-crossing-a-closed-military-zone/

People literally seem to be salivating

@AhaHa what what I have read they seem to be mostly made up of hostages families. Desperate people do desperate things.