Josep Borrell, the European Union’s (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that the suspension of financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) amounts to “collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
Addressing journalists before the start of the summit of EU leaders in Brussels, Borrell said that the situation in Gaza will be discussed at the meeting in addition to providing financial support to Ukraine.
He reminded that the United States of America (USA) and some other countries have suspended financial support to UNRWA.
Borrell said that EU leaders at the summit will emphasize the importance of continued support for UNRWA.
“There should be an investigation, but collective punishment against the Palestinian people is out of the question. The work of UNRWA must not stop. If you stop funding UNRWA, you will punish the entire Palestinian people,” said Borrell, stressing that the EU has not made a decision in this regard. direction.
Funded by voluntary contributions from UN member states, UNRWA has been the main organization providing humanitarian aid such as food, health, education and shelter to Palestinian refugees since it began its activities in 1950.
Today, the agency provides support to 5.9 million Palestinian refugees.
While UNRWA has been trying to heal Palestinian wounds for nearly 74 years, Israel has repeatedly targeted the organization’s facilities, and tons of food and medicine have been destroyed.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an urgent investigation into allegations by Israeli authorities that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attacks. UNRWA has also launched an investigation into Israel’s allegations.
Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Australia, Great Britain, Netherlands, USA, France, Austria, Japan and Estonia have announced that they have decided to temporarily suspend financial support to UNRWA.
On the other hand, Norway, Ireland and Spain announced the continuation of their support to UNRWA.
