Israel supporters want the Federal Court to overturn Ottawa’s choice to keep supporting the primary United Nations agency that helps Palestinians.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is teaming up with Canadians who had relatives killed in the last October attack by Hamas to request that Ottawa stop funding UNRWA.
A legal notice argues that allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the October Hamas attack mean that the agency does not meet Canada’s law on foreign aid, which requires it to be provided “in a manner that is consistent with Canadian values.”
Canada halted aid to UNRWA in January when the agency announced it was investigating whether some of its staff were involved in the attack; Washington has stated that 12 staff members are under investigation.
The Liberals reinstated the funding in March, citing the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the suspension of all staff under investigation.
CIJA says it’s unreasonable to reinstate funding until the investigation is concluded.
The application also mentions Israel’s claim that UNRWA has cooperated with Hamas in recent years, which the agency denies, and it states that Canadian funds are unlawfully benefiting a terrorist organization.
Lawrence Greenspon submitted the application and says the government can support humanitarian aid for Palestinians through other organizations.
“Turn the tap back on, but use a different water fountain,” he said in an interview.
UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, is distinct from the UN agency that serves refugees globally, and has long faced criticism from Jewish groups and the Conservatives.
They point to social media statements by the agency’s staff that they argue do not maintain neutrality. Israel has claimed that hundreds of staff are members of Hamas in documents that have not been publicly shared.
The Harper government halted Canadian funding for UNRWA in 2010 amid allegations that it was too connected to Hamas.
Supporters of UNRWA argue that it is the most effective agency for distributing aid in Gaza, and it continues to designate Palestinians who were displaced by the formation of Israel and their descendants as refugees.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly commended UNRWA last November for providing essential resources in Gaza, noting that it is “the only organization able to concretely do this.”
The United Nations reports that more than 175 of its aid workers were killed in the recent Gaza conflict, making it the largest number of aid workers killed in any conflict in UN history.
