us-senate-leader-calls-netanyahu-an-obstacle-to-gaza-peace

UNRWA, which provides relief and services to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and throughout the region, has found itself in crisis since Israel accused a dozen of its employees of participating in the October 7 attack. 

 

The charges caused UNRWA's largest contributor, the United States, and others to suspend financing, casting the agency's survival in doubt. The president of UNRWA voiced cautious confidence earlier this month that some donors would soon return, however, US officials warned that Washington's financial freeze may become permanent owing to congressional resistance. 

 

Senator Democrat Schumer lambasted Netanyahu, saying that “he is the obstacle to peace”, adding that for peace “there must be early elections in Israel.”

 

Following the United States, the European Union's executive commission is the second largest donor to UNRWA. On March 1, it announced it to pay the agency 50 million euros while holding aside 32 million euros to investigate the Israeli charges.

 

Janez Lenarcic, the EU's chief of humanitarian relief and crisis management, stated that Israel had not offered any proof to him or anybody else in the EU executive or any other UNRWA contributor.

 

"Even if those allegations, at the end of the day, prove to be true, that doesn't mean that UNRWA is the perpetrator," he said. 

 

In that scenario, Lenarcic also said that individual accountability would be preferred above summary punishment, with the "irreplaceable" agency being asked to clean up and move on. 

 

"UNRWA has responded appropriately, promptly, and effectively. It takes numerous steps. There is an inquiry. There's a review. So far, we are pleased with everything," Lenarcic said.

 

 "UNRWA has of course a critical role to play here because it has unmatched infrastructure, warehouses, shelters, logistical capacities."

 

The Middle East issue highlighted tensions in the European Union between governments in Ireland, Spain, and Belgium that have been more sympathetic to Palestinians and those in Germany and Hungary that have been more supportive of Israel.