UK to resume funding UN Gaza aid agency, David Lammy says

The United Kingdom will start supporting UNRWA again, which helps Palestinian refugees, according to the foreign secretary.

David Lammy informed Members of Parliament that he had been given assurances about its impartiality following an investigation into possible connections between its employees and terrorist organizations.

The United Kingdom was one of 16 Western nations that stopped giving money in January, following Israel's claim that 12 UNRWA employees were linked to the Hamas attacks in October 2023.

The UN is currently investigating the claims connected to the attack.

However, a different examination by the United Nations, which was released in April, concluded that Israel had not presented proof to support its allegations that hundreds of UNRWA employees were affiliated with terrorist organizations.

The news aligns the UK with other nations that have started providing funding again, leaving the United States as the only country, out of all UNRWA's donors, that has not yet resumed donations.

During his speech in the House of Commons, Mr. Lammy stated that no other organization had the capacity to provide assistance on the necessary level to improve the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He mentioned that UNRWA was providing food for over half of the population in the territory, which is made up of two million people, and emphasized that the organization would be crucial for future rebuilding efforts.

He expressed shock at Israel's accusations, but the United Nations has given them serious consideration.

He was told that the agency is making sure they follow the strictest guidelines for being neutral after the April review.

This involved "improving its processes, including when screening," according to Mr. Lammy.

He informed members of parliament that the UK will resume its annual funding of £21 million, with a focus on implementing the "management reforms" suggested in the UN review.

The Foreign Office announced that they will be donating £6 million to UNRWA's emergency appeal for Gaza and £15 million to support the agency's work in providing services in the Palestinian territories under Israeli occupation and the surrounding areas.

Juliette Touma, who works for UNRWA, told the BBC that the agency is pleased with the news, especially because the situation in Gaza is getting more urgent.

She also mentioned that the agency had confirmed to the UK that they were putting into action suggestions from the report in April, particularly regarding the importance of maintaining neutrality in their projects.

The assessment, conducted by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, concluded that Israel has not shown proof to back up its assertions that a "large number of UNRWA staff are linked to terrorist groups."

Israel has claimed that over 2,135 workers of the agency, out of a total of 13,000 in Gaza, belong to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. These organizations are considered terrorist groups by Israel, the UK, US, and other nations.

Nevertheless, the assessment determined that the organization needs to make additional efforts to enhance its impartiality, employee screening, and openness.

Israeli officials argue that the report fails to address the seriousness of the issue and allege that UNRWA has consistent ties to Hamas.

Israel claimed that 12 employees of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) were involved in the Hamas assaults on the southern part of Israel. These attacks resulted in 1,200 casualties and approximately 250 individuals being held captive.

Over 38,000 individuals have lost their lives in Gaza since that time, as reported by the health ministry controlled by Hamas in the region. This came after Israel initiated a military operation in Gaza in retaliation to the assaults.

UNRWA fired 10 out of the 12 remaining employees when the accusations came to light, and the UN's Office of Internal Oversight started looking into the complaints.

In April, the organization stated that eight staff members were still being looked into by external investigators. In four of the cases, the investigations were put on hold due to a lack of evidence.

The organization also mentioned that they have started looking into seven more employees. Out of those, six investigations are still in progress.

In his speech in the House of Commons, Mr. Lammy disagreed with some Labour members who were suggesting a complete halt on selling weapons to Israel from the UK.

With Green politicians and independents who support Gaza by their side, about 14 Labour members who don't hold official positions in the government are looking to propose a change to stop the selling of weapons during a discussion scheduled for next week on the King's Speech, which outlines the government's upcoming laws.

The foreign minister stated that implementing a universal prohibition would not be appropriate because Israel is encircled by adversaries in one of the most challenging regions globally.

He explained that licenses to export weapons will be continuously reviewed by government lawyers, who will assess Israel's compliance in the usual manner.

A thorough examination was being conducted and Mr. Lammy stated that he would inform Members of Parliament once it was finished.

However, he did not promise to release internal legal advice - something he demanded of the previous government while Labour was not in power.