Protesters to Condemn US Defunding of UNRWA, Blocking Aid to Gaza

In response to the alarming decision by the United States and other nations to defund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), protesters will gather in New York City for a “Stop Genocide by Starvation” action. The rally will take place on Wednesday, at 9 AM outside the US UN Mission.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has recently called on Israel to adhere to five provisional measures, including refraining from killing and ensuring the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Despite these urgent calls, the US and other nations have opted to withdraw funding crucial to the delivery of food, water, and other vital services to the 2.3 million people residing in Gaza, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.

The decision to defund UNRWA is a direct assault on the basic human rights of millions of innocent civilians in Gaza. We cannot stand idly by as essential aid is cut off, putting countless lives at risk. We demand immediate action to halt this cruel blockade and ensure the well-being of the people of Gaza.

The mobilization aims to denounce the complicity of the US and other nations in perpetuating the genocide of Palestinians. Participants will call for a ceasefire and the restoration of vital humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

The United States and more than a dozen other countries have announced plans to suspend contributions to the agency known as UNRWA after Israel alleged that 12 of its thousands of workers participated in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.

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