The United Nations head has called on the US and others, including Australia, to resume funding its main agency providing aid in Gaza after Israel accused a dozen employees of taking part in the October 7 attacks.
Key points:
- UNRWA will be forced to stop its support to more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza by the end of February after funding was stopped
- A quarter of the Gaza's population facing starvation as fighting continues
- Hundreds of Israeli settlers gathered for a convention calling for Israel to rebuild settlements in Gaza
Mark Regev, an adviser to the Israeli prime minister, told the BBC last Friday the October 7 terrorist attacks had involved "people who are on their [UNRWA] salaries".
Mr Regev told the BBC there was information showing teachers working in UNRWA schools had "openly celebrated" the October 7 terrorist attacks.
He also quoted a released Israeli hostage who claimed she had been "held in the house of someone who worked for UNRWA".
The agency itself has responded to the allegations by terminating the contracts of some staff members to protect the agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance.
Spokesperson Juliette Touma warned the agency for Palestinian refugees, would be forced to stop its support to more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza by the end of February.
The besieged territory is in the grip of a severe humanitarian crisis, with a quarter of the population facing starvation as fighting and Israeli restrictions hinder the delivery of aid.
"The abhorrent alleged acts of these staff members must have consequences," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on Sunday (local time).
"But 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 penalised.
"The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met."
He said of the 12 employees accused, nine were immediately terminated, one was confirmed dead and two were still being identified.
He said they would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.
Former UNRWA chief spokesperson Chris Gunness called the halt "disproportionate".
"It's punitive, because this will impact the women who are crying out for food for their newborns at our food distribution centres," he told ABC News Channel.
"It will affect the children, the elderly, the sick, the dying, the wounded.
"Make no mistake — this will have the most appalling impact."
It comes as the families of Israeli hostages and supporters blocked aid trucks from entering at the Kerem Shalom crossing over the past week.
Dozens of protesters again blocked the entry on Sunday, chanting "No aid will cross until the last hostages return."
The military later declared the area around the crossing a closed military zone, which would prohibit protests there.
Loading...Government and opposition in lock step on suspending funds
Federal minister Anne Aly told ABC Radio National aid to Palestinians must be resumed as soon as possible, once the "serious" allegations at UNRWA had been investigated.
"What I'd like to see is a resolution as quickly as possible so we can get that aid back to where it's needed in Gaza," Ms Aly said.
"It's pretty clear that one of the most vital services for people in Gaza and the West Bank is UNRWA."
The federal government in recent weeks committed $6 million in support to UNRWA.
In a meeting with UNRWA during her tour of the Middle East, Foreign Minister Penny Wong cautioned the aid group to ensure the funds were spent appropriately, while also expressing her concern over past accusations UNRWA had distributed educational material containing anti-Semitic content.
The federal opposition warned at the time the government should not be committing additional support if it could not guarantee the money would not end up in the hands of Hamas.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson said the government had been slow to heed the warnings of Jewish groups, but said he supported the government's decision to now suspend funding to UNRWA.
"Until UNRWA is able to provide satisfactory answers on whether or not its employees were involved in these attacks, then I think it should continue to be paused," he said.
"No Australian taxpayer dollar should ever go to aiding or abetting a terrorist cause."
Israeli settlers hold conference on resettlement in Gaza
Hundreds of members of the Israeli settler community gathered for a convention in Jerusalem on Sunday calling for Israel to rebuild settlements in Gaza and the northern part of the Occupied West Bank.
Israel withdrew its military and settlers from Gaza in 2005 after a 38-year occupation, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it does not intend to maintain a permanent presence again.
Mr Netanyahu has indicated, however, he hopes Israel would maintain security control for an indefinite period post-war.
The US has said Gaza should be governed by Palestinians.
The conference was organised by the right-wing Nahala organisation, which advocates for Jewish settlement expansion in territories, and was titled "Settlement Brings Security".
The Israeli West Bank settlements are classified as illegal by international and humanitarian groups and violent clashes between settlers and Palestinians are frequent there.
Israel's Channel 12 reported that 12 ministers from Mr Netanyahu's party, along with public security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, attended the conference.
Mr Gvir said he had protested the evacuation of Jewish settlements from Gaza and warned it would bring "rockets upon Sderot" and "rockets upon Ashkelon" in southern Israel.
"We yelled and we warned," Ben Gvir said. "If don't want another October 7, we need to return home and control the land."
Netanyahu says 'gaps' remain after meeting on hostage deal
Talks held on Sunday initiated by Qatar, the United States and Egypt to broker a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas were "constructive" but meaningful gaps remain, the Israeli prime minister's office said.
"There are still significant gaps in which the parties will continue to discuss this week in additional mutual meetings," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
US President Joe Biden's administration has been trying to facilitate the release of the more than 100 hostages who remain captive after the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
Some 1,200 people were killed and 253 abducted, according to Israeli officials.
The Israeli counteroffensive to eliminate Hamas has killed more than 26,000 people in Gaza, Palestinian health officials estimate.
The US and Israeli intelligence chiefs have previously met with Qatari and Egyptian officials, helping to broker a short-lived truce in November which saw more than 100 hostages freed.
In return, Israel approved increased aid for Gaza and released scores of Palestinian prisoners.
AP/ Reuters