The decision to pause aid to the organization came after Israel claimed that 12 employees of the UN agency were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
– A person is said to have participated in the kidnapping of an Israeli woman in Israel. Another is said to have been involved in an attack on a kibbutz where over 100 people were killed and a third is said to have been involved in distributing ammunition in connection with October 7, says Samir Abu Eid.
UNRWA dismissed all the staff identified as involved on 7 October.
It is SEK 31 million in aid to UNRWA that is now paused. The government has previously said that SEK 400 million will be paid to the organization in 2024.
– The UN agency helps over 2 million people right now. There is a humanitarian disaster going on in Gaza and then stopping the aid coming in, many believe, could have devastating consequences, says Abu Eid.
Stopping aid to UNRWA could lead to the collapse of the humanitarian aid system in Gaza, the UN believes. The organization is so large that it provides almost all people with water, food, medicines and tent camps.
Proposal for a new ceasefire
Hamas is now going through a new ceasefire proposal put forward by Israel, the US, Egypt and Qatar. But no agreement is yet concluded.
The truce is to be about a six-week temporary ceasefire and the release of 35 people from the Israeli hostages in exchange for a few thousand Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.
– The parties are far apart on the issue. Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire and from Israel there is great pressure from relatives to release the hostages, says SVT’s correspondent.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the war will continue until Israel has achieved its goals.