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At least 12 countries — with top donors the United States and Germany joined by New Zealand on January 30 — have suspended their funding to UNRWA over Israeli claims that some of its staff members were involved in the October 7 attack. (Image: AFP)
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has provided aid to UNRWA directly and welcomed a probe into the allegations levelled against the Palestinian aid agency.
India on Thursday expressed ‘deep concern’ over allegations that UNRWA members were involved in the October 7 Hamas-led terrorist attacks on Israel which took the lives of 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Several countries suspended funding over Israeli claims that 12 UNRWA staffers participated in Hamas’ October 7 attacks.
“Deeply concerned over the allegations, (we) welcome (the) UN investigation,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the external affairs ministry’s briefing.
Israel accused UNRWA of allowing Hamas to use agency infrastructure in Gaza for military activity. Washington, Britain, Germany and Japan are among countries to have suspended payments in light of those disclosures.
“We have been extending assistance to them bilaterally and through the UN. We are deeply concerned (regarding the allegations) that UNRWA members were involved in the October 7 attack on Israel,” Jaiswal said.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), set up in 1949, carries out direct relief and works programmes for Palestine refugees. The UNRWA said it sacked the employees accused by Israel of involvement in the October 7 attack.
The Israeli military and Shin Bet, citing intel, told the Israeli government that they have found ‘active participation’ of UNRWA staffers and use of UNRWA vehicles and facilities during the October 7 attacks.
“This was strong and corroborated intelligence. A lot of the intelligence is a result of interrogations of militants who were arrested during the Oct. 7 attack,’ an Israeli official was quoted as saying by Axios.
Red Sea Attacks
The MEA spokesperson said that the situation in the Red Sea is also concerning and pointed that India is actively monitoring the developments from the region. “It is a matter of concern. We have been discussing it with our partners and other countries to keep the navigation routes free,” Jaiswal said.
Container shipping through the Red Sea has dropped by nearly one-third this year as Houthis vowed to keep attacking the shipping lanes through which 12 percent of global trade passes.
Houthis say these attacks are in solidarity with the Palestinians and in protest of the Israel-Hamas war that has been raging in the Gaza Strip since October and has led to more than 26,000 deaths, most of them women and children.
ICJ Ruling
Jaiswal also said that India has taken note of the International Court of Justice ruling against Israel which asked the country to prevent genocidal acts in its war with Hamas and allow aid into Gaza. “We have taken note of provisional measure that ICJ verdicts has given,” Jaiswal said.
The International Court of Justice said Israel must facilitate “urgently needed” humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory but stopped short of calling for an end to the war in Gaza which has displaced millions and turned the city into rubble.
(with inputs from Abhishek Jha)
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