On February 5, Israeli naval forces reportedly opened fire on a convoy operated by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Thomas White, the director of UNRWA affairs, brought attention to the incident, which occurred on the morning of February 5th. The convoy was intended to transport vital food supplies to residents residing in the northern Gaza Strip.
#Gaza this morning a food convoy waiting to move into Northern Gaza was hit by Israeli naval gunfire - thankfully no one was injured@UNRWA pic.twitter.com/1kvShgX6MG
— Thomas White (@TomWhiteCW8) February 5, 2024
Before this incident, The Wall Street Journal published an article stating that more than a thousand out of twelve thousand UNRWA workers were allegedly associated with Islamic groups. These claims have raised concerns and prompted further scrutiny regarding the organization's employees.
Israeli authorities investigate possible Involvement in attacks
Israeli authorities have expressed suspicions that twelve UNRWA employees might be linked to the attacks carried out by the Palestinian movement "Hamas" on Israel in October 2023. Investigations are underway to ascertain the veracity of these claims, which have added complexity to the already tense situation.
In early February, UNRWA issued a statement indicating a possible suspension of operations not only in Gaza but throughout the entire Middle East region if Western countries do not resume financial support. The decision of sixteen donor countries to halt financial aid to UNRWA has placed the immense humanitarian needs of over 2 mn people in Gaza at risk of further escalation.
Critical role of UNRWA in Gaza
UNRWA, the largest humanitarian organization operating in Gaza, continues its operations with a dedicated staff of over 13,000, of which more than 3,000 are actively engaged in providing vital humanitarian aid. UNRWA's support has been described as vital, with Thomas White emphasizing the difficulty of envisioning Gazans surviving the crisis without the agency's assistance.
Shortly after UNRWA's announcement, several donor countries suspended approximately $440mn worth of funding to the agency. This decision follows reports suggesting the involvement of UNRWA employees in attacks on Israel, leading to Germany, the US, and other states freezing their financial contributions.
According to the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, as of February 5th, the number of casualties in the enclave has exceeded 27,400 people. On the Israeli side, the death toll stands at approximately 1,200, with over a hundred individuals held hostage by Hamas. Recent agreements between Jerusalem and the Palestinian movement have resulted in the release of 110 people, marking a small step towards de-escalation.
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