State Dept. pauses funding for UN agency amid allegations employees involved in Israel attack
The State Department is temporarily pausing new funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East while reviewing allegations that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
Guterres "is horrified by this news" and asked the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, to "investigate this matter swiftly and to ensure that any UNRWA employee shown to have participated or abetted what transpired on 7 October, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution," the secretary-general’s spokesperson said.
Lazzarini said he’s fired several staff members after Israel provided the agency "with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees" in the Oct. 7 attacks.
An investigation is underway, he said, warning that "any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution."