Several countries that had ceased funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) are resuming their support. This reversal follows accusations that agency staff participated in events on October 7, which had initially caused the cessation of funds.
In Rome, Italy announced today, Saturday, that it would resume funding for UNRWA, as reported by Sky News Arabia. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani informed the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mustafa, that Rome would renew its financial support to the agency, as announced by the minister’s office.
Tajani stated in a declaration, “I informed Mustafa that the government has prepared new funding for the Palestinian people totaling 35 million euros, of which 5 million will be allocated to UNRWA.”
Many Western countries had halted their contributions after Israel claimed in January that 12 UNRWA employees had participated in the events of October 7. These allegations led the United States, along with other Western countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Italy, to halt their financial support to the agency.
Israel, however, did not provide evidence of the agency staff’s involvement, prompting several countries to resume funding. By the end of April, an independent assessment concluded that Israel had not provided “evidence” to support its allegations.
UNRWA, which is a major humanitarian organization providing critical aid to Palestinian refugees, especially in Gaza, has reached a crucial point. The funding suspension threatens its ability to continue operations, including education, healthcare, and emergency response services that support millions of Palestinian refugees.
The broader implications of the funding cuts are significant, affecting over two million people who rely on UNRWA for basic services and support. Human rights organizations and some countries have criticized the funding suspension as collective punishment, disproportionately affecting the civilian population in Gaza
