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Shtayyeh : ‘UNRWA Crisis’ Aligns with Israel’s Plan for Palestinian Displacement

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (photo credit: ABBAS MOMANI/POOL VIA REUTERS)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (photo credit: ABBAS MOMANI/POOL VIA REUTERS)
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Shtayyeh : ‘UNRWA Crisis’ Aligns with Israel’s Plan for Palestinian Displacement

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (photo credit: ABBAS MOMANI/POOL VIA REUTERS)
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh. (photo credit: ABBAS MOMANI/POOL VIA REUTERS)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh called on countries that announced their temporary freeze of new financial assistance for the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees (UNRWA) to revert their decision.
Shayyeh added that the suspension of funds to UNRWA coincides with Israel’s plan to displace the people in Gaza, indicating that this suspension comes during challenging times and at a time when the International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to allow aid to enter Gaza immediately.
During a press conference in Ramallah on Sunday, Shtayyeh noted that the countries that have announced freezing funding for UNRWA contribute about 70% of the agency’s budget, which in turn contributes to the relief of about 1.7 million people in the Gaza Strip.
On his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appealed to the countries that suspended funding to UNRWA to reconsider their decisions, to ensure continuity of its vital humanitarian operations.
Several nations, including the US, have halted donations to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees amid accusations by Israel that several UNRWA staff were involved in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas members.
Over two million civilians in the Gaza Strip depend on lifesaving aid provided by UNRWA.
Israel has not disclosed details of the accusations leveled against UNRWA staffers, as confirmed by the UN.
UNRWA stated that it is currently investigating the matter.
The Palestinian Presidency also issued a statement on Sunday expressing its rejection of the campaign led by the Israeli government against UNRWA.
In a statement, the Palestinian Presidency described the campaign against UNRWA as unjust and aimed at liquidating the issue of Palestinian refugees.
The Palestinian Presidency stated that this contradicts UN Resolution 302, under which UNRWA was established on Dec. 18, 1949, and other UN resolutions related to the issue of refugees.
The Palestinian Presidency called on the countries that took a stance against UNRWA before the completion of the investigation into the allegations against it to reconsider these positions.
Such positions, if maintained, would unjustly punish millions of Palestinians, especially those who were displaced from their land in 1948.
Tel Aviv continues to commit crimes against them, including the recent genocide in the Gaza Strip, the statement read.

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Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
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Iraq Frustrated by Iran’s Reluctance to Rein in Militias

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has cautioned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the threats facing Iraq due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran (X)

A senior government official said Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has warned leaders of the Coordination Framework about the “risks to Iraq” from the growing conflict between Israel and Iran.

The official added that Iran is using “deception” when asked to distance its allied militias from the war.

Political and government figures are increasingly worried that Iraq could be hit, after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a drone strike on the Golan Heights early Friday.

Speaking anonymously to Asharq Al-Awsat, the official said al-Sudani is taking steps to keep Iraq out of the conflict.

These efforts include ramping up “political mediation” to persuade militias not to involve Iraq. The prime minister “informed Coordination Framework leaders of the risks” and urged them to “act quickly.”

The official also warned that an attack is still possible, saying intelligence shows the Iraqi militias launched the strike from outside Iraq, using weapons that came from Iraqi territory.

Al-Sudani’s Mediation Efforts

The Iraqi premier has chosen mediators, approved by Iran, to negotiate with militias about the conflict and conditions for de-escalation. These three individuals have previously acted as mediators in past crises.

Last week, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that al-Sudani asked three key Shiite figures to intervene and prevent militias from getting involved in the war between Hezbollah and Israel, after reports surfaced that Israel had identified 35 Iraqi targets.

Sources confirmed that Ammar al-Hakim is among the mediators, along with two other influential Shiite leaders whose names haven’t been disclosed.

However, two Iraqi militias—likely the al-Nujaba Movement led by Akram al-Kaabi and Kataib Hezbollah led by Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi—have refused to cooperate and continue launching rocket attacks on Israel.

The Iraqi official admitted that some militias are “stubborn,” but stressed that al-Sudani knows Iraq is “at the center of the storm.”

He reportedly told leaders of the Coordination Framework, “Iraq cannot avoid a military strike if it happens, so we must stay out of the war to protect the country.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a Friday sermon, stated that “Iran’s allies in the region won’t back down,” increasing concerns that Iraqi militias tied to Iran will continue attacking Israel.

Iraqi sources also reported that the Coordination Framework has reviewed an “intelligence report” on dozens of Iraqi targets that Israel might strike or assassinate.

Government Efforts to Prevent Escalation

Al-Sudani has blocked the flow of Iraqi funds into conflict zones, unlike previous leaders, according to the official.

He has worked closely with the US and its Treasury Department to strictly monitor financial movements, often insisting that Iran uses official channels to claim its dues from Iraq.

The official also said global auditing firms are now helping Iraq’s central bank oversee financial transactions, shutting down all previous routes for illicit money flows.

Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, the US told Iraq it pressured Israel not to strike Iraq, as long as Iraq stays out of the conflict, the official added.

The US doesn’t oppose Iraq’s stance of condemning Israel, supporting Lebanon and Palestine, and sending aid.

But it “won’t accept any financial or military support to militias.”

Regarding Iran’s role, the official said Tehran claims militias act independently, dodging responsibility for reining them in.