US's action on UN agency after claims that staff joined Hamas attacks on Israel

The US on Friday (local time) said it was "extremely" troubled by allegations after a UNRWA staffer was fired in Gaza after he allegedly took part in Hamas's attacks against Israel on October 7 last year, and temporarily halted its funding to the UN agency.

Washington is the biggest donor of UNRWA and provided $340 million in 2022 and several hundred million in 2023. The UNRWA has been the main agency providing humanitarian aid for thousands of people in Gaza in the wake of Israel's deadly counteroffensive against Hamas in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks.

In a statement, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said the allegations against the UNRWA staffer were "shocking" and asserted that any employee "involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution".