Romania is suspending its contribution to the UN agency for Palestine refugees, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday, after UNRWA staff were accused of involvement in the October 7 Hamas terror attack.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that it has taken note with deep concern of recent serious allegations regarding the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel since October 7, 2023.

These accusations should be the subject of an immediate and in-depth UN investigation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“We welcome the quick response of the UNRWA leadership regarding the immediate termination of contracts with the persons concerned and express our full confidence that the investigations launched by the UN, which are also under the attention of the Secretary General of the organization, will clarify the situation in the shortest possible time,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

According to the MAE, Romania will not initiate procedures for new voluntary contributions to UNRWA until the investigation is completed.

When asked if this meant a suspension of funds, MAE officials said that Romania had contributed funds voluntarily so far and had no commitments on a voluntary basis this year, it announced.

“The needs of Palestinian civilians will continue to be a priority for Romania, and we will continue to coordinate with our partners, including at the European level,” the Foreign Ministry added.

Countries that have suspended UNRWA funding include the United States, Germany, Great Britain and Australia.

The United Nations agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) announced on Friday that it has opened an investigation into several staff members suspected of involvement in the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel and said it has stopped working with those staff members.

The Israeli press writes that we are talking about 12 employees of the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees, who would have participated in the attacks of Hamas on Israel on October 7.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been informed of the allegations against staff from the Palestinian refugee agency and is “appalled,” his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said.

The United States is “concerned” by allegations that 12 UNRWA personnel were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and has temporarily suspended funding to the UN agency, the State Department said, according to The Times of Israel.

Of the 12 UNRWA personnel allegedly involved in the deadly Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, nine have been released, one has been killed and the identities of the other two are “under investigation,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. cites CNN and news..ro.

According to an Israeli intelligence source cited by the Wall Street Journal, at least 1,200 staff members of the UN agency for Palestine refugees are members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. This is approximately 10% of UNRWA staff in Gaza.