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🇮🇱 Israel /Economy & Trade

Canada pledges 100 million dollars for Palestinian aid amid UNRWA-staff Hamas controversy

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Canada has pledged an additional $100 million in humanitarian aid for Palestinian territories, bringing its total contribution to $500 million.
  • The funding will be channeled through the UN, Red Cross, Red Crescent, and other NGOs to provide essential services in Gaza and the West Bank.
  • This announcement follows UNRWA's termination of 70 staff members over alleged ties to Hamas, a move criticized by the UNRWA staff union.

Canada is providing an additional $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Palestinian territories, increasing its total contribution to $500 million. Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced the funding, which will be delivered through the United Nations, the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, and other non-governmental organizations.

Today, Canada announced $100 million in funding to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. The funding will be delivered through the UN, Red Cross, and NGO partners, bringing our overall humanitarian assistance to over half a billion dollars.

— Anita AnandCanadian Foreign Minister announcing the new aid package.

The financial aid aims to supply critical services such as emergency medical assistance, food, water, sanitation, shelter, and protection in Gaza and the West Bank. Anand also highlighted the launch of the International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine, a joint initiative with the UK and Australia, to support civil society organizations working towards peace.

In addition, we also launched the International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine with the UK and Australia to support civil society organizations in their grassroots work to build peace between Israelis and Palestinians. To this end, we put forward a $1.8 million commitment. We will keep working with both Israelis and Palestinians and thank all civil society organizations present in Paris today for their contributions.

— Anita AnandCanadian Foreign Minister discussing peace-building initiatives.

This significant funding commitment comes shortly after the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) confirmed it had terminated contracts for 70 staff members in Gaza due to alleged ties with Hamas. UNRWA stated the action was taken to address safety and security risks for the refugees it serves, while also noting that Israel had not provided evidence to support its accusations.

to mitigate safety and security risks for the refugees the Agency serves

— UNRWAOfficial statement from UNRWA explaining the reason for terminating staff contracts.

The UNRWA staff union has voiced concerns, calling the terminations a violation of justice principles due to the alleged lack of a fair investigation. These firings followed referrals of 101 current or former UNRWA staff members to the U.S. State Department for potential suspension or disbarment over their alleged involvement in the October 7 attacks or affiliation with Hamas.

making such a decision without a fair and transparent investigation constitutes a clear violation of the principles of justice.

— UNRWA staff unionThe union's complaint regarding the termination of staff members.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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