Japan pauses funding to UN agency over Israel’s claims that staff were involved in Hamas attack
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UN officials have urged countries, including top donors the US and Germany, to reconsider their funding pauses for UNRWA.
PHOTO: REUTERS
TOKYO - Japan said late on Jan 28 that it has decided to suspend additional funding to the UN agency for Palestinians in Gaza, while the agency conducts an investigation into an allegation that its employees were involved in the Oct 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.
Japan is “extremely concerned about the alleged involvement of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) staff members in the terror attack on Israel” and has been “strongly urging UNRWA to conduct the investigation in a prompt and complete manner”, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
UN officials have urged countries, including top donors the US and Germany, to reconsider their funding pauses for UNRWA. Japan is the sixth-biggest donor to the agency, according to the UNRWA’s 2022 data. REUTERS
