[Today’s Prayer] “UN staff also helped kidnap Israeli residents”… UK government suspends further support for UNRWA

The British government announced that it would no longer provide support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is suspected to have involved in surprise attacks on Israel by the Palestinian armed political faction Hamas.

According to the British daily Guardian on the 29th (local time), in the morning, a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister's Office was asked about the claim that 12 UNRWA employees, partially funded by the UK, were involved in the massacre of Israelis by Hamas on October 7 last year. He answered, “The British government doesn’t think that our aid money went to Hamas.”

However, the spokesman said the UK would not provide any further support to UNRWA while its links to Hamas were investigated.

(Omitted)

On this day, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) cited a report from the Israeli intelligence agency and reported on the activities of six of the 12 UNRWA employees suspected of being linked to Hamas.

According to the report, two UNRWA employees assisted in the kidnapping of Israeli residents.

It was revealed that two other employees stayed at the site where dozens of Israeli residents were shot dead.

It is reported that Israeli intelligence agencies confirmed this information through location tracking using cell phone data and interrogation of Hamas prisoners.

(Omitted)

In particular, Israel claims that 23% of UNRWA's male employees are affiliated with Hamas.

This figure is higher than the percentage of ordinary men in Gaza linked to Hamas, which is 15%.

Recently, Israel delivered this report to the United States, and starting with the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Australia, and Finland also decided to suspend support.

Israel has warned that funds and aid provided to UNRWA could go to Hamas rather than to Gaza residents.

Source: JoongAng Ilbo

As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10).

There is no fear of God before their eyes (Romans 3:18).

…and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished. (Romans 3:24-25)

We praise the God of salvation who is patient with us and does not give up until the end.

God, Israel and Palestine continue to be at war.

Now we hear that even aid organizations are being accused of being involved in this war.

It is said that until the suspicions about this are resolved, countries that have provided support, including the UK and Canada, France and Japan, will stop providing support.

Due to the war, even aid organizations have lost trust in the international community, cutting off help to those in need.

God, you said there is no one righteous, not even one.

Please forgive the sins of Israel and Palestine, who hate and fight against each other, and even lose others’ trust!

Please help the two nations, who are fighting over their hopes for the perishable things of this earth, now understand the word of God.

We confess that only the grace of the Holy Spirit can brighten the eyes that are darkened by sin and give true hope and joy.

By your grace, may the people of Israel and Palestine be justified by looking at the cross of forgiveness.

Through reconciliation in Jesus Christ, may all nations praise the name of God, who does amazing things!