Austria announced on Saturday its decision to resume funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The funding was previously suspended after Israeli claims surfaced that some UNRWA employees might have been involved in the October 7 attack.
In January, Israel accused approximately 12 out of 13,000 UNRWA employees in Gaza, a region where the agency coordinates all aid, of participating in an unprecedented attack by Hamas in southern Israel.
By the end of April, an independent assessment concluded that Israel had not provided “evidence” to support these allegations. The review emphasized that UNRWA lacks “neutrality” in Gaza, as reported by the French Press Agency.
Following the Israeli accusations, about 15 countries, including Austria along with major donors like the United States, Germany, Sweden, and Japan, suspended $450 million in funding for the agency. Many of these nations, including Germany, Sweden, Canada, and Japan, have since resumed their contributions, while others continue their suspension.
The Austrian Foreign Ministry stated, “After a detailed analysis of UNRWA’s action plan to improve organizational performance, Austria has decided to release the funds.” The ministry added that €3.4 million had been allocated in the 2024 budget, with the first installment to be paid during the summer.
Austria plans to use part of its future funding to enhance internal monitoring mechanisms within UNRWA. The statement also highlighted Austria’s close monitoring of the action plan implementation in collaboration with other international partners, emphasizing that “trust was lost.”
Furthermore, since October 7, Austria has significantly increased its support for Palestinians in Gaza, providing €32 million in humanitarian aid through other relief organizations.
