Israeli official tells US 'no alternative' to UN refugee agency in Gaza: Media

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) - There is no alternative to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees or UNRWA in the Gaza Strip now, the Israeli media said on Wednesday.

Brig. Gen. Ghassan Alyan, the coordinator of Israeli government operations in the Palestinian territories, told senior US officials that "at this stage, there is no alternative to the activities of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip,'' reported Israeli daily Israel Hayom.

Alian's statements contrast with the official Israeli position, which calls for ending the operations of the UN agency in the Palestinian enclave.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a meeting with several UN ambassadors that it is time for the international community and the UN itself to understand that the mission of UNRWA must end.

At least 18 countries along with the EU have suspended their funding for the UN agency based on Israel's allegations that 12 of its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.

Last week, the agency launched an investigation of the Israeli allegations.

Israeli has accused UNRWA staff of working for Hamas since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict, in what was considered “justification” for attacking the organization’s schools and facilities in the strip, which houses tens of thousands of displaced people, according to analysts.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Ankara