Australian government restores funding to UNRWA to support Gaza

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong spoke at a press conference on Friday announcing the Australian government is restoring funding to UNRWA to support civilians in Gaza. The government had paused its funding to UNRWA after Israel made allegations its staff were involved in the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas, resulting in the firing of several staff members and investigations into others. “Successive Australian governments have funded the United Nations Relief and Works Agency or UNRWA since 1951, this is because it does lifesaving work for communities in the occupied Palestinian territories,” Ms Wong said. “After taking office, the Albanese government doubled Australia’s annual funding to UNRWA to $20 million each year – we took a decision to pause $6 million of additional funding which was taken after serious allegations were made resulting in UNRWA’s dismissal of staff alleged to have been involved in the Hamas terrorist attacks of the 7th of October. “The best available current advice from agencies and the Australian government lawyers is that UNRWA is not a terrorist organisation and that existing in additional safeguards sufficiently protect Australian taxpayer funding. “After consideration by the National Security Committee this week, Australia is unpausing our contribution to UNRWA.”