Israel-Hamas: US suspends UNWRA funding for UN Gaza agency, Abbas spokesperson slams decision

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that the U.S. welcomes the United Nations' investigation into its refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA), following allegations by Israel that agency staff members were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Britain, Italy and Finland became the latest countries to pause funding for the United Nations' refugee agency on Saturday — joining the United States, Australia and Canada, which had announced a pause in aid the day before, after Israel said 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the cross-border attack. The agency has opened an investigation into several employees and severed ties with them. On Saturday, the spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, criticized the decision by some countries to pause funding for UNRWA. Rudeineh said that the decision “sends a wrong message” and that the humanitarian funding was needed for the people in Gaza. The Israeli foreign minister called on Saturday for the agency to be "replaced with agencies dedicated to genuine peace and development" and urged other countries to pause UNRWA funding. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/10252851/unrwa-israel-attack-allegations/ Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #UNWRA #US #UN