The EU foreign policy chief remarks at the EU leaders summit in Brussels came after several EU members states decided to suspend their funding to UNWRA following the involvement of several of the agency’s staff members in the 7th of October atrocities committed by Hamas in southern Israel.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday that the European Commission has not decided to stop the funding to UNWRA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. ‘’ I think that at this moment the support to UNWRA has to continue,’’ he told reporters at a doorstep ahead of a special meeting of the 27 EU leaders in Brussels where the situation in the Middle East was discussed.

His remarks came after several EU members states decided to suspend their funding to UNWRA following the involvement of several of the agency’s staff members in the 7th of October atrocities committed by Hamas in southern Israel.

The EU is along with the United States the main donor to UNWRA.

On Monday, the EU said it would “re-examine” its support for UNRWA, following the allegations . It said it ‘will determine future funding decisions for UNRWA in the light of the very serious allegations.”

“We first ask the organization to carry out the investigation it has itself announced, and we then ask it to agree to an audit by independent experts to be selected by the Commission,” said the EU Commission’s chief spokesman, Eric Mamer. He insisted that the independent external experts be appointed by the EU” to audit the agency in order to strengthen control systems designed to prevent staff from taking part in terrorist activities.

But speaking to reporters, Borrell said he will stress to EU leaders ‘’how much important is supporting UNWRA. The investigation has to be done but we cannot make collective punishment to the Palestinian  people.’’ ‘’UNWRA is something that cannot stop working otherwise hundreds of thousands of people will be punished,’’ he said.

‘’If you cut funding of UNWRA you are punishing the all Palestinian people. There is no alternative to UNWRA as the United Nations has clearly said. If you want to keep these people alive no collective punishment to the Palestinian people, no cutting of aid.,’’ Borrell added.

He continued, ‘’There are hundreds of thousands of people supported by UNWRA. You cannot stop the funding to keep these people alive. Investigation has to be done but one thing is one thing and another thing is another thing. The European Commission has not decided to stop the funding to UNWRA. I think that at this moment the support to UNWRA has to continue. I am fully supporting the position to the Secretary General of the United Nations.’’

Several EU member states have suspended their funding of UNWRA, including Germany, Italy, France, Netherlands, Austria.

While Spain, Ireland Denmark, and Belgium have announced that they will not suspend funding.