Poilievre calls UNRWA 'terrorist' organization, after Canada pauses funding following allegations

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has accused UNRWA, the United Nations relief and works agency, of being a «terrorist» organization and promised to cut back its funding if he becomes prime minister.

Israel last week alleged that some members of UNRWA's staff took part in the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas-led militants on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 Israelis. Palestinian health officials say about 26,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since that date.

The UN aid agency says it's investigating the allegations and has already fired several employees.

In a statement released Friday, Canada's international development minister, Ahmed Hussen, expressed alarm at the allegations and said Canada would pause its funding to the organization.

That puts Canada among a number of countries, including the U.S., Britain and Germany, who have shut off the flow of money.

UNRWA is a key provider of aid in Gaza, including food, water and shelter. It also plays a crucial co-ordinating role with other agencies and organizations. Aid agencies and humanitarian groups have expressed concern that a pause in funding could exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

«UNRWA is desperately short of resources right now. Gaza is desperately short of resources. And any funding paused by anyone puts the humanitarian relief efforts at risk,» Rex Brynen, chair of the Middle East Studies program at McGill University, told CBC News.

On Sunday, Poilievre responded to the news and the political fallout in Canada, and sought to tie the issue to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

«Trudeau should be ashamed of himself for the way he spent our money to fund this terrorist organization,» Poilievre said.

On Sunday, Canada's