The New Zealand Jewish Council is pleased that the Prime Minister has announced a pause in funding for UNRWA, the UN
agency solely dedicated to supporting Palestinians who it defines as refugees, after reports that certain employees
participated in the October 7 Hamas massacre of Israelis. In suspending funding, New Zealand joins the states of the G7,
as well as Australia and several European states.
Overnight, the Wall Street Journal has published an investigation that reports that 23% of male employees of UNRWA have
an active role in Hamas. Some are commanders.
UN Watch has also revealed that over 3000 UNRWA teachers in a Telegram group celebrated October 7 as the attacks were
unfolding, sharing photos and video footage and praying for the terrorists’ success and Israel’s destruction. Since
2015, UN Watch has exposed over 150 UNRWA staff Facebook pages that contain antisemitism and incitement to terrorism in
violation of UN neutrality
There are numerous other reports of UNRWA complicity in October 7, including its employees holding Israelis hostage in
Gaza, diverting aid to Hamas, and its facilities being used to store armaments and stage attacks.
For years, the Council, along with other Jewish and non-Jewish groups, has urged MFAT to hold UNRWA to account for the
curriculum taught in its schools that incites hate and terrorism, of which there is irrefutable and comprehensive
evidence.
New Zealand has provided millions in funding during this war to the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the
World Food Programme, who are on the ground in Gaza, and there are other UN agencies operating there too, through which
New Zealand can provide humanitarian assistance to Gazans.
Ben Kepes, spokesperson for the Council, notes that: “It is clear that antisemitism and incitement to terrorism are
systemic in UNRWA. As a country, we cannot reconcile continuing to fund UNRWA with combatting antisemitism and
terrorism. UNRWA is part of the problem, and most certainly not part of the solution that seeks an end to hostilities
and promotes peaceful co-existence between Palestinians and Israelis”.