Gaza – Schools, clinics and food distribution centers in the Gaza Strip were closed on Monday due to a one-day strike by the 13,000 employees of the United Nations agency that serves the Palestinians.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
The Palestinian employees have been angered by a U.S. decision to cut its annual contribution toward the running of the United Nations’ Relief and Welfare Agency (UNRWA), which runs 278 schools in Gaza attended by some 300,000 students.
The UNRWA is funded mainly by voluntary contributions from U.N. member states, with the United States by far the largest donor. Washington announced on Jan. 16 it would hold back $65 million – more than half its planned contribution this year – and demanded that the agency make unspecified reforms.
Those joining Monday’s strike said the U.S. funding cut would worsen hardship in the Gaza Strip, and they marched to the U.N. headquarters in Gaza City waving Palestinian flags and brandishing banners that read “Dignity is priceless”.
“I have a family of nine and I have never felt afraid for my job like today. U.S. aid cuts will affect the entire community,” said 59-year-old English teacher Ahmed Abu Suleiman.
UNRWA spokesman Abu Hasna said the agency, which has launched an international appeal for funds, had enough money for three months of operations.
“We appreciate the fear and concern of employees for their jobs and for possible cuts in services,” he said.
More than half of the two million people in the Gaza Strip are dependent on support from UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies. Unemployment in the enclave stands at 46 percent.
The strike comes amid Palestinian anger over U.S. President Donald Trump’s Dec. 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Trump criticized the Palestinian leadership for refusing to meet Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to the region and suggested such behavior provided grounds for cutting aid.
“When they disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them, and we give them hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and support, tremendous numbers, numbers that nobody understands — that money is on the table and that money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace,” Trump said.
UNRWA was established by the U.N. General Assembly in 1949 after hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were expelled from their homes in the 1948 war that followed the creation of the state of Israel.
There’s enough money in the arab world. Plus we don’t reward people for killing innocent men women and children.
Wow, So many UN employees in Gaza, living on our tax dollars?
The headline made me laugh
Compain to Mr. Abbas and while you are at it ask him why he spent $ 50 million for a private airplane to land in Jordan. Where did he get the money? If you need money go lynch him!!
Let them starve. This agency has proven to not be an agency representing world population trying to help refugees. It has become a part of the Hamas, Muslim, Palestinian enemy seeking to destroy Israel and murder Jews. They are undeserving of a dime. Let them starve. I don’t feel bad for the nine children, etc. when the father who is an employee of this enemy terror supporting agency is continuing his employment there.
I am only upset that the remainder of US funding to this corrupt terror agency has not yet been withdrawn.