The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Sunday, that it "has not planned a new payment" for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in the first quarter of this year. 

This comes after allegations were made that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7 operation.

The ministry added that it "will decide when the time comes what action to take in conjunction with the United Nations and the main donors, ensuring that all its transparency and security requirements are met."

The United States Department of State had earlier announced the suspension of additional funding for UNRWA. 

The US Department of State declared that it would "temporarily suspend" new funding for the UN agency in response to accusations by Israeli Occupation authorities that some of the agency's employees were involved in the attack carried out by Hamas on October 7, as reported by AFP. 

The US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, "The United States is deeply concerned about allegations that 12 UNRWA employees may be involved in the attack launched by Hamas on October 7th."

Additionally, UNRWA announced on Friday the dismissal of "several" of its employees, who are accused by the Israeli Occupation authorities of being involved in the attack on October 7.

- Countries who suspended UNRWA funding - 

The United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Britain, and Finland announced suspension of funding for UNRWA. 

- Countries that reject subjecting UNRWA to collective punishment - 

"Several Countries, Including Jordan and Egypt, Reject the Decision to Halt Aid to UNRWA Amid Ongoing Aggression in Gaza"

Some countries, including Jordan and Egypt, have rejected the decision to suspend aid to UNRWA amid the continuous Israeli Occupation aggression in the Gaza Strip, leading to a deterioration of humanitarian conditions.

Foreign Minister Safadi emphasized the necessity for the agency not to be subjected to collective sanctions based on allegations against 12 of its 13,000 staff in Gaza, especially since the agency has initiated an immediate investigation into these allegations.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stated that the language used against UNRWA employees was not used in protest against the martyrdom of 26,000 Palestinians. He stressed the importance of not prejudging the investigation into the allegations against UNRWA staff, noting that limiting UNRWA's ability to perform its services should not happen.

Shoukry emphasized that suspending UNRWA's funding is collective punishment for the Palestinians.

- Demanding reconsideration of decision - 

In his conversation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini urged the countries that announced the suspension of their support for UNRWA to reconsider their decision.

He emphasized the importance of ensuring the agency's ability to provide vital services, crucial for over two million Palestinians in Gaza to obtain the minimum essentials for life.

Lazzarini mentioned that UNRWA has requested the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services, the highest investigative authority within the UN, to conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the allegations involving 12 of its employees in the October 7 attack.