A sudden halt in funding for the UN’s primary aid agency in Gaza has ignited fierce debate as millions face starvation and displacement. The US, Canada, Australia, and Italy paused financial support for UNRWA following allegations that 12 staff members were linked to Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
With Gaza’s death toll surpassing 26,600 and Oxfam calling this conflict the ‘deadliest of the 21st century,’ UNRWA warns the funding freeze could push vulnerable families into famine. Over 2 million people rely on the agency for food, shelter, and healthcare—with 1 million crammed into UNRWA-run shelters.
The move comes just days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to allow urgent humanitarian aid into Gaza. Critics call the funding suspension a ‘political gamble’ that ignores the reality: UNRWA’s 13,000 Gaza staff operate in a region where Hamas is deeply embedded. \"It’s unrealistic to expect zero ties,\" one analyst noted.
As Western nations recalibrate their stance, activists warn cutting aid could deepen instability in the region. With no alternative aid pipeline, Gaza’s crisis risks spiraling further—leaving the world asking: Should humanitarian support ever be a bargaining chip?
A sudden halt in funding for the UN’s primary aid agency in Gaza has ignited fierce debate as millions face starvation and displacement. The US, Canada, Australia, and Italy paused financial support for UNRWA following allegations that 12 staff members were linked to Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
With Gaza’s death toll surpassing 26,600 and Oxfam calling this conflict the ‘deadliest of the 21st century,’ UNRWA warns the funding freeze could push vulnerable families into famine. Over 2 million people rely on the agency for food, shelter, and healthcare—with 1 million crammed into UNRWA-run shelters.
The move comes just days after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to allow urgent humanitarian aid into Gaza. Critics call the funding suspension a ‘political gamble’ that ignores the reality: UNRWA’s 13,000 Gaza staff operate in a region where Hamas is deeply embedded. \"It’s unrealistic to expect zero ties,\" one analyst noted.
As Western nations recalibrate their stance, activists warn cutting aid could deepen instability in the region. With no alternative aid pipeline, Gaza’s crisis risks spiraling further—leaving the world asking: Should humanitarian support ever be a bargaining chip? 
