Australia announced that it was unfreezing funding aid to Palestine's main relief agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), following allegations that its staff were involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the Hamas militant group.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that Australia would provide an additional $6 million in aid for the Gaza Strip. This came after officials expressed horror at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the war-torn region.
Australia To Resume UNRWA Funding
Wond defended the decision to reinstate funding to the relief agency, saying that the allegations against UNRWA warranted an immediate and appropriate response. She said that the Australian government, in the face of such accusations, needs to ensure that it assures the people that it was able to ensure that assistance goes to the appropriate people.
The foreign minister noted that the best advice from agencies and the Australian government lawyers was that UNRWA is not a terrorist organization. The development follows Israel's calls for the UN relief agency to be disbanded and replaced, according to the Daily Mail.
This came after Jerusalem accused the UNRWA of being aligned with the Hamas militant group, which Australia recognizes as a terrorist organization. Following the announcement, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Australian Jewish Association slammed the decision. They argued that Australia's money risks going to fund the Hamas group's efforts.
Despite its accusations, Israel only provided some of the evidence that it relied upon to determine that UNRWA was affiliated with Hamas. The Oct. 7, 2023, attack in question resulted in the death of roughly 1,200 Israelis and more than 200 people becoming hostages.
Wong said that Australia considered all of these factors, adding that the government also sought advice from security agencies and government lawyers. The foreign minister said that the primary consideration in restoring funding for UNRWA was that the money would be used appropriately.
Israel's Allegations Against the Relief Agency
Additionally, the Australian foreign minister said that her country would be supporting airdrops conducted by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide aid to Palestinians in Gaza. It was revealed that a Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster will deliver 140 aerial delivery parachutes, said The Hill.
Izzat Abdulhadi, the head of the general delegation of Palestine to Australia, said that it was a "principled and timely step." He noted that this was particularly true given the increasingly dire and catastrophic humanitarian situation that Palestinians in Gaza are facing.
On the other hand, Amir Maimon, the Israeli ambassador to Australia, said that the decision was "very disappointing." He noted that it comes before the UN's own review is finalized, which is expected to come later this month.
Australia was among more than a dozen countries that suspended funding to the UNRWA following Israel's accusations. According to US News, the allegations prompted an investigation by the UN and led to the relief agency itself firing some staff members.
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