The Axios news website reported that Jewish members of the Democratic Party in the US House of Representatives discussed, yesterday, Tuesday, possible alternatives to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip.
The site learned in a report by a congressional correspondent, Andrew Solander, that the Jewish parliamentary group discussed these alternatives in a meeting they held with the coordinator of liaison with Palestinian civilians in the Israeli army.
The meeting came after the United States and eight other countries stopped their funding for UNRWA after Israel accused dozens of UNRWA employees of involvement in the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) attack on Israel on October 7th.
UNRWA has been the main channel for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza since Israel began its aggression against the Strip.
6 alternatives presented by the Israeli official
The Axios website, quoting legislators, explained that between 8 and 10 Democratic Jewish representatives met with Israeli Army Colonel Elad Goren, head of the civilian section of the Government Coordination Unit in the Palestinian Territories, who presented to them 6 possible alternatives to UNRWA, including the United Nations Children’s Fund. (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food Programme.
Disregard
On the other hand, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement on Saturday that it was “appalling” to see 9 countries withdrawing their funding under the pretext of allegations against “a small group of employees.”
He added that the decision was surprising, because the agency took immediate action to dismiss the accused from service and initiated an investigation into the charges.
Lazzarini added, “It is reckless to punish UNRWA and an entire community it serves, because of allegations against some individuals of committing criminal acts in a time of war in which the region is witnessing displacement and political crises.”
