Tánaiste: 'No plans' for Ireland to suspend funding to UNRWA

Tánaiste Micheál Martin noted that Ireland provided the agency with €18m in 2023 and "will continue our support in 2024".

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said there are "no plans" for Ireland to suspend funding to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees.

His comments come as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said on Friday it sacked "several" employees after Israel made accusations that 12 UNRWA staff members were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks.

Following the accusations, the British government said it was "temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations".

Australia, Italy, Finland and Canada have all decided to suspend financing of UNRWA.

However, in a statement on social media on Saturday, Mr Martin said that Ireland would not be following suit.

Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Tánaiste said he has "full confidence" in the commissioner-general of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini’s decision to immediately suspend staff suspected of participation in the "heinous attacks of October 7".

"Ireland has no plans to suspend funding for UNRWA's vital Gaza work," Mr Martin added.

"UNRWA’s 13,000 employees provide life saving assistance to 2.3m people and at incredible personal cost - with over 100 staff killed in last four months".

Mr Martin noted that Ireland provided the agency with €18m in 2023 and "will continue our support in 2024".

Meanwhile,  Two women and a man were killed early on Saturday in what witnesses said was an Israeli air strike on a home in the southernmost part of Gaza, as Israel pursued its military offensive against the Palestinian enclave.

The strike came less than a day after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent death, destruction and any acts of genocide in Gaza.

As part of its binding ruling, the top United Nations court asked Israel for a compliance report in a month, meaning the military’s conduct will be under increasing scrutiny.