Norway boosts funding for UN Palestinian refugee agency

Norway boosts funding for UN Palestinian refugee agency

Norway said Monday that it was increasing its funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) by 100 million kroner ($9.3 million). UNRWA, which coordinates nearly all aid to Gaza, has been in crisis since January, when Israel accused about a dozen of its 13,000 Gaza employees of involvement in the unprecedented October 7 Hamas attack that sparked the war. That prompted several countries, including top […]

June 17, 2024 17

World

UNRWA chief says Israel hit Gaza school ‘without prior warning’

The head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, Philippe Lazzarini, said Thursday that Israel had bombed one of its Gaza schools "without prior warning" to thousands of displaced sheltering there. The military said it had killed several "terrorists" in a "precision strike on a Hamas compound embedded inside a UNRWA school" in the Nuseirat area while Gaza's Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital said at least 37 people were killed […]

June 6, 2024 32

World

United Nations’ internal investigations team has closed several cases involving UNRWA employees linked to the October 7 attack

The United Nations' internal investigations team has closed several cases involving UNRWA employees linked to the October 7 attack, due to lack of evidence provided by Israel. The U.N Office of Internal Oversight Services has been investigating some 12 cases, following Israel's accusations in January this year. Jody Jacobs reports from the United Nations in New York.

April 30, 2024 13

World

UNRWA’s Money Woes May Be Easing as Some Donors Return, but US Is Unlikely

Numerous donors are returning to fund UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works agency for Palestinians, reacting to preliminary results from a UN probe into Israeli accusations that agency staff participated in the Oct. 7 massacre. But it appears the United States will not be directing contributions to the organization this year. UNRWA is the main operation delivering food to Gaza, above. UNRWA/INSTAGRAM After weeks of deepening financial straits amid […]

March 15, 2024 8

World

UN aid facility attacked in Rafah

The United Nations says Israeli Forces have hit a food distribution centre in the eastern part of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. One UNRWA staff member was killed in the attack and at least 22 people were injured. Jody Jacobs reports.

March 14, 2024 8

World

The Hurdles Keep Climbing for the UN’s New Gaza-Aid Troubleshooter

Sigrid Kaag, a former Dutch politician, was named to the new post of senior humanitarian coordinator for Gaza late last year. Since arriving on the job on Jan. 8, the enormous hurdles to delivering food and other essentials into the Palestinian enclave have worsened as famine alarms are being sounded by UN officials. MANUEL ELIAS/UN PHOTO By Damilola Banjo via Passblue Sigrid Kaag, a Dutch diplomat and former politician appointed […]

February 29, 2024 10

Videos

US eyes Israel-Hamas ceasefire by next week

A new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could start as soon as Monday, US President Joe Biden said, in a deal that may free dozens of hostages held in Gaza in exchange for several hundred Palestinian detainees. In the protracted bid to bring about a truce, Egypt, Qatar, the United States, France and others have acted as go-betweens for Israel and Hamas, with negotiations ongoing. They are seeking a six-week […]

February 27, 2024 9

Videos

As Rafah offensive looms, disagreements between US, Israel will become ‘increasingly more public’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a plan for post-war Gaza that envisions local Palestinian officials without links to Hamas or its foreign backers governing the territory, Israeli media reported Friday. The proposal, which Netanyahu submitted to his security cabinet late Thursday, would also see the Israeli army persisting in its war on Hamas until it achieves key goals. Those include dismantling Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and securing the […]

February 23, 2024 13

World

Israeli PM proposes plan for post-war Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed a plan for post-war Gaza that envisions local Palestinian officials without links to Hamas or its foreign backers governing the territory, Israeli media reported Friday. The proposal, which Netanyahu submitted to his security cabinet late Thursday, would also see the Israeli army persisting in its war on Hamas until it achieves key goals. Those include dismantling Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and securing the […]

February 23, 2024 14