Egypt urges US to reverse decision to cut off funding for UN refugee agency

CAIRO

Egypt called on the US on Wednesday to reverse a decision to suspend funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held talks in Cairo with US Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues David Satterfield.

Discussions between the two sides took up the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and the destruction of infrastructure in the enclave, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Shoukry “requested the US and other donors to reverse a decision to suspend funds for UNRWA and wait for the results of the agency’s internal investigation,” the statement said.

At least 18 countries along with the EU have suspended their funding for UNRWA based on Israel's allegations that 12 of the agency's staff participated in the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.

Last week, the agency launched an investigation regarding the Israeli allegations.

Israeli has accused the UNRWA's staff of working for Hamas since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, in what was considered a “justification” for attacking the organization’s schools and facilities in the strip, which houses tens of thousands of displaced people, according to analysts.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Ankara