RAFAH, Gaza Strip. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, called on countries on Sunday to continue supporting the main agency providing aid in Gaza despite allegations that some of its employees were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the conflict four months ago.
The controversy surrounding the primary provider of essential aid to Palestinians unfolded as U.S. officials indicated that negotiators were nearing a cease-fire agreement. The potential deal aims to bring a two-month halt to the most severe Israeli-Palestinian violence ever recorded, which has fueled instability throughout the Middle East.
Guterres cautioned that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, might be compelled to reduce aid to over 2 million Palestinians as early as February. The coastal enclave is grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis, with a quarter of its population facing the threat of starvation.
“But the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met,” he emphasized.
Regarding the 12 employees accused of participating in the attack, Guterres stated that nine had been immediately terminated, one was confirmed dead, and “the identity of the two others is being clarified.” He assured that all individuals involved would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.
With 13,000 staffers in Gaza, almost all of them Palestinians, UNRWA provides essential services, ranging from medical care to education, for Palestinian families displaced during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation—a majority of Gaza’s population. The agency expanded its operations during the recent conflict, managing shelters for hundreds of thousands of newly displaced people.
UNRWA Director Philippe Lazzarini stressed that over 2 million of the territory’s 2.3 million people depend on the agency for “sheer survival,” including basic necessities such as food and shelter. He warned that this crucial lifeline could “collapse any time now.”
The United States, the agency’s largest donor, suspended funding over the weekend, followed by several other countries, including Britain, Germany, and Italy.
The Israel-Hamas war has resulted in the death of over 26,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Vast areas of Gaza have been destroyed, and nearly 85% of the territory’s population has been displaced. The Hamas attack in southern Israel claimed the lives of about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, with around 250 hostages taken.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
