Iran said that the decision of Western countries to suspend funding for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East).
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that what the Western countries are doing is nothing but an endorsement of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
He shared his remarks regarding the latest UNRWA issue on Sunday, Jan. 28. Here are other things Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said.
Iran Says UNRWA Funding Suspension is 'Endorsement of Genocide'
IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency) reported that Iran condemned the UNRWA funding suspensions of Western countries. Meanwhile, the United Nations, as well as Palestinian officials, said that UNRWA funding should continue to help civilians in the Gaza Strip.
Kanaani explained that restricting and putting pressure on UNRWA's humanitarian activities to deliver needed humanitarian aid to a nation facing harsh war conditions is "nothing but an endorsement of the narrative of a criminal regime accused of committing genocide."
The Iranian official condemned Western countries for hindering the efforts of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip as it faces an imminent threat of genocide.
Kanaani also denied the accusations made against UNRWA staff, claiming that these allegations were another malicious act. He said that Israel is doing this to complement its inhumane actions against Palestinians.
He added that the Israeli government made such accusations against the Palestinian humanitarian organization so that it could justify the restrictions it imposed on other humanitarian agencies in the Gaza Strip.
"It is also an attempt to absolve the Israeli regime of committing unprecedented and horrifying crime of the massacre of around 150 employees of these international institutions, including UNRWA, over the past 113 days," explained Kanaani.
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About UNRWA Allegations
Palestinian teachers sit in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza City during a general strike of employees in UNRWA institutions in the Palestinian strip, on November 29, 2021.
According to CNN World, an Israeli official accused 12 UNRWA employees of getting involved in the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the official war between the Palestinian militant organization and Israel.
Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate Maj. Gen Aharon Haliva even met with some senior U.S. officials on Friday, Jan. 26.
During their meeting, the Israeli official gave the names of those involved in the Hamas terrorist attack, as well as the organizations they are affiliated with.
Because of the alleged involvement of UNRWA employees in the Hamas attack, at least nine countries, such as the U.S. and Germany, paused funding for the humanitarian agency.
Related Article: Japan Suspends UNRWA Funding Over Allegations of Staff Involvement in Oct 7 Hamas Attack
