British government will lift funding ban on Palestinian aid organization
**The new British government has announced the resumption of funding for the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA). "We are lifting the suspension of UNRWA funding," said British Foreign Secretary and Labour politician David Lammy in the House of Commons in London on Friday, adding that the organization is "absolutely central" for the provision of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The previous conservative British government, like other donor countries, had suspended the financing of UNRWA in January.
UNRWA came under heavy criticism at the beginning of the year after Israel accused twelve UNRWA employees of directly participating in the unprecedented attack by the radical Islamic Hamas on October 7.
Foreign Secretary Lammy also announced an additional 21 million pounds (approximately 24.9 million Euros) in funding for UNRWA. He was "appalled" by the allegations against the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency. However, he was reassured by the reforms proposed by an independent body that UNRWA ensures the highest neutrality standards and improves its procedures, including employee screening.
Moreover, in his first speech before Parliament, Lammy reiterated his call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza and the release of hostages there. "Much, much more humanitarian aid must come to Gaza," Lammy also said. UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma told the AFP news agency that the British government's decision was "excellent and very welcome." Previously, countries such as Germany, the EU, France, Japan, and Sweden had already resumed their suspended payments to UNRWA.
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 triggered the war in Gaza. Hamas fighters, classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US, killed 1,195 people and took 251 hostages into Gaza according to Israeli reports. In response to the attack, Israel has been conducting massive military operations in Gaza since then. According to reports from the health ministry controlled by the Hamas-controlled, which cannot be independently verified, more than 38,800 people have been killed since then.
- Despite the allegations of misconduct against UNRWA, the British government chose to lift the financing prohibition, as Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his appreciation for the reforms proposed to ensure neutrality and improve procedures within the organization.
- The resumption of funding for UNRWA by the British government, along with other donor countries, such as Germany, the EU, France, Japan, and Sweden, will significantly help Palestinian Aid Workers in providing essential humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza.
- In his attempt to alleviate the crisis in Gaza, the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, called for an immediate ceasefire and urged for more humanitarian aid to reach the region, with the additional 21 million pounds in funding for UNRWA set to play a crucial role in this endeavor.
