The US announced on Friday that it was temporarily suspending funding for UNRWA, the UN agency dedicated to Palestinian refugees and their descendants, citing concerns about the participation of several of its employees in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas pogrom in southern Israel.

“The United States is extremely troubled by the allegations that twelve UNRWA employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel,” US State Department Matthew Miller said in a statement. “The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.”

The US announcement came after UNRWA confirmed that it was launching an investigation into the employees suspected of involvement in the pogrom.

“The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7,” Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, said in a statement.”To protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay.”

While Miller claimed that 12 UNRWA employees joined the Hamas assault — in which more than 1,200 Israelis and foreigners were murdered and more than 200 taken hostage, amid atrocities that included mass rape and mutilation — Lazzarini did not disclose the number of employees allegedly involved in the attacks, nor the nature of their alleged involvement. He said, however, that “any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror” would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres said that the world body’s top official was “horrified” by the revelations.

“An urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA will be conducted,” Stephane Dujarric said.

UNRWA has frequently been accused by the Israeli government and international watchdogs of promoting antisemitic tropes and the delegitimization of Israel’s right to exist, particularly in the schools it operates.

The agency, whose biggest donors in 2022 included the United States, Germany and the European Union, has repeatedly said its capacity to render humanitarian assistance to people in Gaza is on the verge of collapse as Israel continues its military operation to destroy Hamas’ hold on the territory.

Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy accused UNRWA of announcing the news while the world’s attention was focused on the International Court of Justice ruling concerning South Africa’s charge that the Jewish state is committing “genocide” in Gaza.

“Any other day, this would have been a major headline: Israel submits evidence of UN employees’ complicity with Hamas,” Levy posted on X/Twitter.

In his statement, the State Department’s Miller noted that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had spoken with Guterres on Friday “to emphasize the necessity of a thorough and swift investigation of this matter.”

“UNRWA plays a critical role in providing lifesaving assistance to Palestinians, including essential food, medicine, shelter, and other vital humanitarian support.  Their work has saved lives, and it is important that UNRWA address these allegations and take any appropriate corrective measures, including reviewing its existing policies and procedures,” Miller said.

Israel warmly welcomed the US announcement, calling it “an important step in holding UNRWA accountable.”

In a post on X/Twitter, Yoav Gallant, Israel’s Defense Minister, asserted that “major changes need to take place so that international efforts, funds and humanitarian initiatives don’t fuel Hamas terrorism and the murder of Israelis.”

“Terrorism under the guise of humanitarian work is a disgrace to the UN and the principles it claims to represent,” Gallant wrote.