30 Jan 2024

Helen Clark on UNRWA funding

From Morning Report, 8:11 am on 30 January 2024

More countries have halted funding to the largest UN agency operating in Gaza, as the crisis deepens over the alleged role of some staff in the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel.

According to a report in the New York Times, an Israeli intelligence dossier alleges that nearly 200 UNRWA workers are Hamas or Islamic Jihad operatives, without providing detailed evidence.

The dossier also alleges at least 12 workers crossed into Israel on 7 October.

UNRWA has sacked nine of those employees and says it is investigating.

Former prime minister Helen Clark who led the UN Development Programme which oversees UNRWA, spoke to Morning Report.