Halting funds to UNRWA would be “disproportionate and dangerous”, the EU foreign policy chief has warned, after Israeli accusations that 12 members of the Palestinian refugee agency’s staff took part in the October 7 attack on Israel.

Immediately after the allegations were made a dozen countries including the U.S. and Britain suspended funding to the agency, The Guardian reported. 

Borrell said, “such a disproportionate response would be difficult to conceive elsewhere.” 

He added, “If some doctors in a European hospital were involved in criminal activities, there would be a thorough investigation and all appropriate actions would be taken.”

Borrell, however, said, “No government would ever stop funding the health service, as this would primarily punish the people who receive these services. The wrongdoing of individuals should never lead to the collective punishment of an entire population.”

Borrel noted that the agency is “central to the entire aid operation inside Gaza” and that no other UN agency “could manage operations without UNRWA’s infrastructure, logistics and personnel”.