Envoy calls for more Palestine aid after probity pledge

[Pelican Press 0]

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Envoy calls for more Palestine aid after probity pledge

Palestine is asking for more aid as the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsens after Australia accepted assurances from a ******* Nations agency its money was going where it was needed.

Funding was suspended to the ******* Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) after accusations some staff members were involved in the October 7 ******* against ******* by designated ******* group ******.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong signed an agreement with the agency before reinstating funding after it assured the government it had taken action and investigated the serious allegations.

Australia’s $6 million donation to the agency’s flash appeal could only be spent on dignity and shelter kits as part of stringent probity requirements.

Palestine’s envoy in Australia Izzat Abdulhadi has called for more funding.

“There are huge demands now, it’s the only agency that provides the scale of humanitarian assistance needed in Gaza,” he told AAP.

******** Senator Claire Chandler criticised the $6 million donation, saying money was paid weeks before the agency confirmed at least nine staff may have been involved in the October 7 *******.

All were fired.

“It’s unacceptable for even a dollar of *********** taxpayers’ money to go to an organisation with terrorists in its ranks,” she told AAP.

Under the funding agreement, which was released in full on Monday, UNRWA must report any allegations of *********** or bribery that “warrant investigation” to Australia.

UNRWA staff must not endorse any ********** activity or promote organisations seeking to incite *********, intolerance or discrimination on social media.

The digital staff list, including ID numbers, must be provided to Australia upon request and UNRWA must undertake periodic updates of all staff members and personnel.

The agency must ensure it has appropriate programs to verify financial statements and keep detailed records and provide a financial report to Australia.

There will also be ****** field visits to UNRWA operations funded by Australia.

It comes as the Albanese government balances another diplomatic tightrope on Palestine ahead of a vote on a UN resolution calling for *******’s withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank in line with an International Court of Justice opinion.

The ************ Authority is pushing to uphold the court’s advisory opinion that undercut *******’s claims to sovereignty over the occupied territories, saying it was violating international law.

Mr Abdulhadi called on Australia to support the non-binding motion, saying it was in line with the court’s opinion which the federal government said it respected.

******* rejected the legitimacy of the ruling and it’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said the motion was a “reward for terrorism”.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham also called for the Albanese government to ******* the motion, saying it was one-sided and ******* to condemn ****** or support *******’s right to exist.

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