UK Delays Decision on Unrwa Funding Amid Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The UN is set to publish a plan to make the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians (Unrwa) more transparent, but the UK is unlikely to make an immediate decision to restore funding, despite most other countries having done so after suspending it following allegations of Unrwa staff involvement in an attack on Israel.
Tory MPs are urging the government to maintain the suspension.
The UK gave £35m to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) last financial year, with an additional £16m for humanitarian aid.
Some Conservative MPs and pro-Israel supporters have urged Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, against resuming funding due to UNRWA's perceived closeness to Hamas.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman asserted that Hamas has infiltrated UNRWA and used its resources for terrorist attacks, making it a disgrace for the UK government to fund the agency.
Critics argue that food distribution can be handled by other organizations like the World Food Programme, but supporters maintain that UNRWA's infrastructure is irreplaceable.
An independent report prepared by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna for the UN is set to be published at noon in New York (5pm BST).
The report, which was commissioned by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, is described as concise and direct.
Its recommendations aim to increase the UN's transparency and accountability.
The UK gave £35m to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) last financial year, with an additional £16m for humanitarian aid.
Some Conservative MPs and pro-Israel supporters have urged Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, against resuming funding due to UNRWA's perceived closeness to Hamas.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman asserted that Hamas has infiltrated UNRWA and used its resources for terrorist attacks, making it a disgrace for the UK government to fund the agency.
Critics argue that food distribution can be handled by other organizations like the World Food Programme, but supporters maintain that UNRWA's infrastructure is irreplaceable.
An independent report prepared by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna for the UN is set to be published at noon in New York (5pm BST).
The report, which was commissioned by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, is described as concise and direct.
Its recommendations aim to increase the UN's transparency and accountability.