Israeli bank set to block UNRWA's account: Report

Tel Aviv [Israel], February 5: Israeli newspaper Haaretz is reporting that an Israeli bank has notified the UNRWA that it is blocking the agency's bank account due to "tangible suspicions it is transferring funds to terror groups in Gaza".
The bank, which was not named in the report, said it had received information of unusual activity including untraceable transfers in the UNRWA's account, and issued multiple alerts.
Fifteen donor countries withdrew their funding to the agency after a leaked Israeli intelligence assessment claimed a dozen UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attacks.
Earlier on Sunday, the UNRWA's commissioner-general said his agency had not yet been shown any evidence to corroborate these claims.
British newspaper The Financial Times also reported that it had looked at the assessment and it did not provide evidence for the claims.
UNRWA's commissioner-general told the Financial Times (FT) that Israel has yet to provide evidence of its claims that about a dozen UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attacks.
Philippe Lazzarini said although he was taking the allegations against the organisation seriously, he could not comment on the progress of the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation.
The FT report said the intelligence assessment did not provide evidence for the claims, which include an accusation that a staff member kidnapped a woman.
The claims have led 15 donor countries to withdraw their funding to the UNRWA, a move that Lazzarini said could lead to the UNRWA being forced to end lifesaving assistance and operations in the Gaza Strip by the end of February.
Source: Qatar Tribune