6 European Countries Pause Funds for UN Palestinian Agency; Israel Wants It Replaced

A truck marked with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) logo crosses into Egypt from Gaza at the Rafah border crossing during a temporary truce between Hamas and Israel, on Nov. 27, 2023. Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

Six European countries paused funding for the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) on Saturday, following allegations that some of its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland on Saturday joined the United States, Australia, and Canada in pausing funding to the aid agency, a critical source of support for people in Gaza, after the allegations by Israel.