Japan has joined a growing list of nations, including the US, Germany, U.K., and Canada, in suspending funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees.
The decision comes in response to alarming allegations that UNRWA staff members participated in the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel, a move that has heightened global tensions.
Japan Suspends UNRWA Funding
Israel presented evidence indicating that twelve UNRWA employees in Gaza were involved in the massacre of 1,200 Israeli citizens carried out by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.
In light of these revelations, Japan, echoing the concerns of other nations, expressed extreme apprehension about the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff members in the attack.
Foreign Press Secretary Kobayashi Maki from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan stated that Japan would suspend additional funding to UNRWA while the agency conducts an investigation into the matter and considers appropriate measures to address the allegations.
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Japan’s Dual Diplomacy
Japan has been actively urging UNRWA to conduct a thorough and prompt investigation. Kobayashi emphasized the need for measures to strengthen governance within UNRWA, ensuring the agency fulfills its intended role.
Simultaneously, Japan is committed to diplomatic efforts aimed at improving the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, contributing to efforts to calm tensions by supporting other international organizations.
The move by Japan coincided with similar decisions by other countries to halt funding to UNRWA. However, not all nations are in agreement. Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, announced that Norway, a major donor to UNRWA, would continue its funding.
While acknowledging the serious allegations against some UNRWA staff, Eide urged other donors to consider the broader consequences of cutting funding during a time of extreme humanitarian distress. He emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza, urging against collective punishment for millions of people based on the actions of a few.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, responding to the funding suspensions, called on member countries to resume supporting UNRWA despite the accusations from Israel.
Guterres acknowledged the horrifying nature of the allegations and assured that any UN employee involved in acts of terror would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, criticized Guterres for urging countries to renew their funding for UNRWA.
Erdan emphasized the need for a comprehensive investigation into the involvement of all UNRWA employees in terrorism before resuming support. He warned that funds transferred to UNRWA could inadvertently reach Hamas terrorists instead of the intended recipients in Gaza.
As countries take divergent paths on the funding issue, the situation underscores the complexity of balancing humanitarian assistance with concerns about alleged terrorist involvement, adding a new layer of diplomatic challenges on the global stage.
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