UN officials and aid groups called for countries to reconsider their decision to pause funding for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians, warning that its life-saving aid for some two million people in Gaza was in jeopardy, Reuters reports.

At least nine countries, including top donors the United States and Germany, have paused funding for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) following allegations by Israel that some of its staff were involved in the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that killed 1,200 people.

“While I understand their concerns I was myself horrified by these accusations - I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, vowing to hold to account “any UN employee involved in acts of terror”.