U.K. Says It’s Restoring Funding to the U.N. Agency That Aids Palestinians

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

U.K. Says It’s Restoring Funding to the U.N. Agency That Aids Palestinians

Britain said on Friday that it would restore funding to the ******* Nations agency for Palestinians, a major vote of confidence in the embattled aid group by the country’s new Labour government in its first significant move on the *******-Gaza conflict.

The British foreign secretary, David Lammy,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

that the agency, UNRWA, had taken steps to make sure that it meets “the highest standards of neutrality,” and he confirmed that Britain would transfer 21 million pounds, or $27 million, to the agency, which processes much of the humanitarian aid flowing into Gaza.

The previous ************* government had suspended funding after ******* accused a dozen employees of UNRWA of being involved in the ******-led attacks that ******* about 1,200 ******** civilians last October. ******* claimed that many other workers at the agency were members of ********** groups, but has not produced evidence to support those broader charges.

“I was appalled by the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks, but the U.N. took these allegations seriously,” said Mr. Lammy, who was appointed foreign secretary on July 5, a day after the Labour Party’s landslide election victory over the Conservatives.

After an independent review, Mr. Lammy said that Britain had been “reassured” that UNRWA was “strengthening its procedures, including on vetting,” and said the agency was “absolutely central” to ensuring aid reached civilians.

Britain had joined the ******* States and a dozen other countries in suspending the funding. But the humanitarian situation in Gaza has become ever more dire, and last week 118 countries publicly declared their support for the agency at the ******* Nations, with the secretary general, Antonio Guterres, declaring, “There is no alternative to UNRWA.”

Mr. Lammy, who recently returned from a visit to *******, repeated his demand for an immediate cease-***** and criticized ******* over the shortage of aid entering Gaza. “******* promised a flood of aid back in April but imposes impossible and unacceptable restrictions,” he said. But his statement captured the political pressures that his government is likely to face regarding the conflict.

He did not comment on whether Britain will drop the previous government’s objection to arrest warrants sought by the International ********* Court for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of ******* and for the ******** defense minister, Yoav Gallant.

Mr. Lammy said that he took the issue “extremely seriously,” along with the question of whether ******* was complying with international law. “As soon as I took office, I tasked officials with a comprehensive review of *******’s compliance with international humanitarian law,” he said, “And that process is now underway.”

Many members of the Labour Party want tougher action against *******. Some Labour politicians were damaged in the election by the party’s cautious approach to the conflict. Jonathan Ashworth, a Labour figure who would probably have been named to a cabinet post, unexpectedly lost his seat to a pro-************ activist.

Mr. Lammy’s support of UNRWA was widely welcomed in Parliament, though one senior ************* lawmaker voiced opposition. “UNRWA schools have been repeatedly used by terrorists to both store weapons and launch attacks,” said Richard Holden, a former deputy chairman of the party.

Juliette Touma, an UNRWA spokeswoman, called the decision to resume funding a “very positive and welcome announcement,” adding that the agency “needs every penny as part of its humanitarian response in Gaza.”

She said that UNRWA had no way to verify accusations about the use of its facilities by armed groups but said it had denounced the reports and called for investigations. U.N. investigators are still examining *******’s accusations that some UNRWA employees participated in the Oct. 7 attacks, she added.

Aaron Boxerman contributed reporting from Jerusalem.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#U.K #Restoring #Funding #U.N #Agency #Aids #Palestinians

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up