2024-01-31 03:11:15

1/31/2024-|Last update: 1/31/202406:01 AM (Mecca time)

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The United Nations announced that Israel has not yet submitted to it a file containing its accusations once morest the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and while Washington said that suspending its funding for the agency is temporary, UN agencies warned of the catastrophic consequences of stopping the agency’s funding for the residents of the Gaza Strip.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General, said in a press conference in New York on Tuesday that Israel had conveyed to UNRWA its allegations of the involvement of 12 agency employees in the attack launched by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on October 7, which the movement called a flood. Al-Aqsa.

Dujarric added that Tel Aviv has not yet submitted a written file regarding these allegations, noting that the termination of the duties of the concerned employees and the investigation conducted by the agency took place in light of the Israeli accusations.

The UN spokesman stated that UNRWA previously shared its staff list with the host country, and also shared it with Israel, without the latter expressing any concerns regarding it.

For days, the Israeli war government has launched a campaign once morest the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, and claims that Hamas is using the agency’s infrastructure to launch attacks.

Although investigations into the Israeli allegations are still in their infancy, the United States, other Western countries, and Japan announced the suspension of their aid to UNRWA, and in return, Spain, Ireland, and Norway confirmed that they will not cut aid.

The United Nations agency announced measures that include dismissing the employees concerned and opening an investigation into the Israeli allegations, and warned that cutting its funding would affect Palestinian civilians.

In Gaza…a mass siege that amounts to a crime once morest humanity, with no drinking water, no health facilities, and food is scarce, and countries that oppress the Palestinians stop funding UNRWA in line with the Israeli campaign | Report: Fatima Triki #News#Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/V7fMsngAAV

– Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) January 30, 2024

Disastrous consequences

Meanwhile, the heads of the UN Inter-Agency Committee said that decisions to stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees would have catastrophic consequences for the residents of Gaza.

The UN officials added – in a statement – that withdrawing funds from UNRWA will lead to the collapse of the humanitarian system in Gaza.

The statement stressed that there is no other entity that has the agency’s ability to provide the assistance needed by more than two million people in Gaza.

For her part, the United Nations Aid Coordinator in Gaza, Sigrid Cass, said yesterday that no organization can replace UNRWA.

Cass’s statements came while United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a closed meeting with countries donors to UNRWA to inform them of the steps taken by the United Nations regarding the Israeli accusations once morest a number of agency employees.

The Palestinian delegate to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, said that Guterres appealed to the member states that suspended their funding for UNRWA to reconsider their decision. He also appealed to other countries – including countries in the region – to increase their contributions to funding the agency, and stressed its role in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

For his part, the United Nations rapporteur on poverty and human rights expressed his hope that the countries that suspended support for UNRWA would retract their positions, noting that people in Gaza need the support provided by the agency.

Amnesty International called on countries that decided to suspend their funding to the UN agency to retract this decision, which it considers unjust.

Temporary suspension

Meanwhile, the US representative to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said that the cessation of US funding to UNRWA is temporary, stressing the importance of the agency to provide life-saving aid in Gaza.

Greenfield welcomed the United Nations investigation into allegations regarding the participation of agency employees in the attacks of last October 7.

For his part, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller yesterday called on the United Nations to investigate the allegations once morest the UN agency, stressing that the agency’s work in Gaza is indispensable and must continue.

Displaced people in an UNRWA school in Rafah (European)

Israeli accusations

In this context, Israel accused the UN agency yesterday of being a “front” for Hamas.

Israeli government spokesman Elon Levy said that UNRWA “is compromised in three main ways: recruiting terrorists on a large scale, allowing Hamas to use its infrastructure for military activities, and relying on Hamas to distribute aid in the Gaza Strip.”

For his part, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid sent a letter to one of the subcommittees of the US Congress in which he echoed the Netanyahu government’s allegations regarding the UN agency’s support for what he called terrorism by allowing the use of its facilities by the Hamas movement and the involvement of a number of its employees in attacks once morest Israel.

Lapid called for finding an alternative to UNRWA, saying that it is part of the problem and cannot be part of the solution.

Israeli ministers called for the expulsion of UNRWA employees from the Gaza Strip.

Increase aid

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council yesterday expressed its concern regarding the dangerous and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The Council stressed – in a statement – the urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip.

The Security Council urged all parties to work with the United Nations Coordinator for Humanitarian and Reconstruction Affairs on Gaza.

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2024-01-30 22:05:04

Sobotka: Anyone who wants to protect democracy must not shy away from fighting anti-Semitism

Vienna (PK) – As a sign of recognition and gratitude for outstanding achievements in the fight once morest anti-Semitism and for the promotion of Jewish life in Austria, National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka presented the Golden Vision Award – the highest honor of the European Jewish Congress (EJC) – in parliament today received awarded.

As President of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka showed extraordinary commitment to Judaism in Austria, actively participated in initiatives to commemorate the Holocaust and worked tirelessly to fight anti-Semitism, emphasized EJC President Ariel Muzicant in his laudatory speech. “Wolfgang Sobotka has always been on our side, both in moments of joy and sadness, especially in these difficult times for all Jews. As anti-Semitism increases both in Europe and in Austria, we are proud to have the President of the National Council as a loyal friend to have,” says Muzicant.

Furthermore, following the deadliest attacks on the Jewish people since the Holocaust on October 7, 2023, one might not be more grateful and proud that the Austrian federal government, the people and especially the President of the National Council, openly and clearly expressed their solidarity with the Israeli people and especially with the hostages and their families, the EJC President continued.

Sobotka accepts award on behalf of official Austria

“Anyone who wants to protect democracy must not shy away from the fight once morest anti-Semitism,” emphasized Wolfgang Sobotka in his words of thanks. The President of the National Council spoke of an “indescribable honor” and that he was accepting the award on behalf of official Austria. Although the crimes of National Socialism in Austria have not yet been fully dealt with, the Federal Government, Parliament with the National Fund, the Mauthausen Memorial, the Jewish Community and numerous clubs and organizations are making an important contribution to the education of young people.

The attacks carried out by armed terrorists on October 7, 2023 were the worst crime once morest Jews since the Shoah and resulted in a rise in anti-Semitism worldwide. Sobotka emphasized that democracies must now take a stance to express support and empathy for the victims and not relativize terror. Resignation is not an alternative. Austria and the EU must “clarify things, state facts and promote mutual understanding”. Conclusion (med)

A NOTICE: Photos from this event as well as one Review of past events you find in Parliament web portal.

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#National #Council #President #Wolfgang #Sobotka #received #Golden #Vision #Award #European #Jewish #Congress