Displaced Palestinian people sit on benches as they wait outside a clinic of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Jan. 28, 2024, amid ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (Credit: AFP)
The EU on Monday demanded an "urgent" audit of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA and said it is reviewing funding, following Israeli allegations that some staff participated in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack.
The audit must be led by European Commission-appointed experts and conducted alongside a UN investigation into the claims, commission spokesman Eric Mamer told journalists.
"What is absolutely clear is that these actions are urgent. They are important and they should be launched without any delay," Mamer said.
The European Union is one of UNRWA's top donors.
A commission statement said the EU executive "will determine upcoming funding decisions for UNRWA in light of the very serious allegations made on 24 January relating to the involvement of UNRWA staff in the heinous 7 October attacks."
It said that no additional funding to UNRWA "is foreseen until the end of February."
But it added that humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza and in the West Bank "will continue unabated through partner organizations."
UNRWA has fired several staff members over Israel's accusations, which have prompted numerous countries, including the United States, France, Britain, Germany and Japan, to announce they were suspending further funding to the UN agency.
The European Commission said it "will review the matter in light of the outcome of the investigation announced by the UN and the actions it will take."
The EU on Monday demanded an "urgent" audit of the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA and said it is reviewing funding, following Israeli allegations that some staff participated in Hamas's Oct. 7 attack.
The audit must be led by European Commission-appointed experts and conducted alongside a UN investigation into the claims, commission spokesman Eric...