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The United Kingdom has decided to temporarily halt funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) following claims of staff involvement in recent attacks against Israel. This pause comes amid allegations that 12 UNRWA staff members were implicated in the Hamas attacks on October 7, which resulted in significant Israeli casualties and hostage-taking.

A UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson expressed the country’s shock at the allegations, stating, “The UK is temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations.”

UNRWA plays a crucial role in providing aid and services to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and is a primary agency among humanitarian groups working in the region. The decision to suspend funding arrives at a critical time, as the Gaza Health Ministry reports over 26,000 Palestinian casualties following Israel’s counteroffensive.

The United States has also voiced its concerns over the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the Hamas attacks. The State Department has put additional funding on hold while it evaluates the claims and reviews the United Nations’ response. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini announced that the agency would conduct an investigation into the involvement of its employees, with a commitment to hold any guilty parties accountable, potentially including criminal prosecution.

The United States and the United Kingdom’s actions align with similar decisions by Australia, Canada, Finland, Italy, and Israel, all of whom have suspended their financial contributions to the agency.