Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Africanews
Published on 2024-01-29 12:04:40
At a joint news conference in Cairo with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, expressed criticism over the decision by certain Western countries to cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza. This decision came after Israel accused 12 UNRWA employees of involvement in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.
Shoukry voiced surprise at the strong language used in connection with the allegations against UNRWA employees, especially considering that similar expressions were not used when addressing the tragic deaths of over 26,000 innocent civilians in Gaza, mostly women and children. He emphasized that it is unacceptable to diminish UNRWA’s capacity to fulfill its responsibilities due to the actions of a few individuals, and that holding the entire agency responsible for the actions of a few is unwarranted given the crucial role the agency plays.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also urged countries to reinstate funding to UNRWA, warning that the agency might have to reduce aid to over 2 million Palestinians in Gaza as early as February. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened due to fighting and Israeli restrictions, hindering the delivery of essential aid. A quarter of the population is facing starvation, making it urgent to maintain UNRWA’s operations.
Guterres reported that of the 12 employees implicated in the attack, nine were immediately terminated, one was confirmed dead, and two others were still being identified. He assured that they would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. UNRWA, with 13,000 staffers in Gaza, is predominantly composed of Palestinians and serves various roles from educators in agency-run schools to medical professionals and aid workers.
Separately, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, criticized Israel’s rejection of the U.N. top court’s call to prevent death, destruction, and acts of genocide in Gaza. He emphasized that this rejection has contributed to the dire situation, approaching 30,000 deaths in Gaza. Bin Farhan called on the international community to value international law and coordinate efforts to address the crisis and achieve peace.
