BRAZILIAN President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused ‘rich countries’ of being a coward for pulling out of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) funding.
Speaking at an Arab League meeting in Cairo held this week, Lula claimed that refugees throughout the Middle East will become ‘destitute’ following the decision to pull funding from UNRWA.
“At a time when the Palestinian people need support the most, rich countries have decided to cut humanitarian aid to the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees,” said Pres. Lula da Silva, Brazil.
“Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon will also be left destitute. This inhumanity and cowardice must be stopped. Enough of collective punishment,” he added.
To recall, in late January of this year, at least 15 countries, including Britain, Germany, and the United States, suspended funding for UNRWA.
This is after Israel alleged that some of the agency’s staff were involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks.
In response to Israel’s allegations, UNRWA said it had terminated the contracts of the accused and launched a full investigation into the claims.
Lula announced that his government would make a ‘new contribution’ to UNRWA and urged other nations to do the same.
He also stressed the importance of establishing a ‘definitive ceasefire’ in the Gaza Strip, and declared that there are ‘no more excuses’ to prevent the State of Palestine from becoming a full member of the United Nations.
“There are no more excuses to prevent Palestine from joining the UN as a full member. The resumption of peace negotiations is a universal cause. And it is our cause. That’s why I want to renew my wishes for peace and prosperity for all of you. I would like to end by saying that Brazil will continue, in the coming years, to defend the recognition of the Palestinian state as a sovereign state, not only by the UN but also on the ground, so that the Palestinians can build their lives in peace and with the respect of the rest of the world,” stressed Pres. Lula.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces recently claimed to have discovered a tunnel network seven hundred meters long and 18 meters deep, and extending partly under the Gaza Headquarters of UNRWA.
Meanwhile, UNRWA denied Israel’s claims, with its Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini saying that they did not know what is under its headquarters in Gaza.
“Fighting continues in Gaza during the fifth month of the Israel-Hamas war, and the latest death toll in Gaza has reached more than 28,000 as reported by Palestinian officials,” said Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General, UNRWA.
