LIVE UPDATES
Japan has become the latest addition to a growing list of countries suspending funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees, citing concerns over allegations of staff involvement in the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel.
The decision follows similar moves by the U.S., Germany, U.K., Canada, and at least five other nations, all temporarily halting contributions to UNRWA.
Israel provided evidence indicating that a dozen UNRWA employees in Gaza took part in the massacre of 1,200 Israeli citizens by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023.
"Against this backdrop, Japan is extremely concerned about the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff members in the terror attack on Israel on October 7 last year," stated Kobayashi Maki, the Foreign Press Secretary from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "In response, Japan has decided to suspend additional funding to UNRWA for the time being while UNRWA conducts an investigation into the matter and considers measures to address the allegations."
"At the same time, Japan will continue to make persistent and active diplomatic efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and to calm down the situation as soon as possible by providing support to other international organizations," Kobayashi added.
The move reflects a growing international response to allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the attack, underscoring the gravity of the situation and the need for a thorough investigation into the matter.
As Japan joins the ranks of countries withholding funding, attention turns to UNRWA's response and its efforts to address the allegations while maintaining its humanitarian mission in the region.
