NEW YORK: UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded on Saturday for donor states to 鈥済uarantee the continuity鈥� of the body鈥檚 Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) after several halted funding over accusations of staff involvement in Hamas鈥� October 7 attack on Israel.
鈥淲hile I understand their concerns 鈥� I was myself horrified by these accusations 鈥� I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA鈥檚 operations,鈥� Guterres said in a statement, referring to the agency鈥檚 acronym.
Israel has alleged several UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas鈥檚 attack, leading some key donor countries to suspend their funding.
UNRWA fired several staff over Israel鈥檚 accusations, promising a thorough investigation into the claims, which were not specified, while Israel vowed to stop the agency鈥檚 work in Gaza after the war.
The row between Israel and UNRWA follows the UN鈥檚 International Court of Justice ruling on Friday that Israel must prevent possible acts of genocide in the conflict and allow more aid into Gaza.
鈥淭he abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences,鈥� Guterres said.
鈥淏ut the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized,鈥� he added.
鈥淭he dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met.鈥�
Guterres confirmed that 12 UNRWA employees were cited in the accusations, which the United Nations is investigating.
Nine have been fired, one is dead, and the 鈥渢he identity of the two others is being clarified,鈥� he said.
Several key donor countries to UNRWA have said they will temporarily suspend their current or future following accusations, including the United States, Britain, Canada and Switzerland.
Hamas slammed Israeli 鈥渢hreats鈥� against UNRWA on Saturday, urging the UN and other international organizations not to 鈥渃ave in to the threats and blackmail.鈥�
The Islamist group鈥檚 October 7 attack resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.
Militants also seized about 250 hostages and Israel says around 132 of them remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 28 dead captives.
Israel鈥檚 military offensive, which began in late October, has killed at least 26,257 people, most of them women and children, according to Gaza鈥檚 health ministry.