Allegra Spender under fire for Gaza aid call, accused of ‘abandoning’ Jewish constituents

The Teal MP has been scrubbed from attending a Jewish charity function after her call for resumed funding to a UN agency linked to terrorists left the community feeling ‘abandoned’.

Allegra Spender has hit back at claims she has “abandoned” the local Jewish community, saying she “continues to care” after having been uninvited from speaking at a prominent Sydney Jewish charity’s 25th anniversary luncheon.

The cancelled invited came after it was revealed she had called for taxpayer funding to Gaza aid groups be restored despite the risk of the money winding up in the hands of terrorists.

The Wentworth teal MP, whose electorate takes in some of the most heavily Jewish suburbs in the country, had been scheduled to speak next week at an event commemorating the 25th anniversary of B’nai B’rith’s “Courage to Care” initiative.

However it can be revealed that after reports Ms Spender joined with other teal MPs in calling for the Australian government to resume humanitarian aid funding, including potentially to a UN agency with links to terrorists, the engagement was scrubbed.

A message to the group’s supporters obtained by this masthead reveals that Ms Spender has been uninvited from speaking at the sold out event, which is understood to still be going forward.

“In light of recent events, it has been mutually agreed that it would be in the best interests of our organisation and the event if she was to withdraw,” the letter from Courage to Care stated.

Video showing an UNRWA worker driving a white UN jeep, and abducting the body of Jonathan Samerano, who was killed by Hamas terrorists on October 7.

“The recent event we refer to was a letter to Foreign Minister Penny Wong MP … which requested that a means of funding humanitarian aid to Gazans be found, including potentially UNRWA.”

In the letter, which was first revealed on the Sky News program Outsiders, Ms Spender joined other teal and independent MPs including Zali Steggall, Sophie Scamps, Kylea Tink, and Monique Ryan in asking for an end to the pause in aid announced last January after allegations emerged that UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 attacks.

Allegra Spender speaking during a 'United With Israel - Bring Them Home' protest on November 26, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

“We recognise the government needs to balance … two legitimate concerns – ensuring our aid does not support terrorism, while supporting Palestinian civilians in a dire humanitarian situation,” the letter, dated February 29, read.

“We believe that it is critical that either an alternative pathway is fund to deliver urgent aid, or that the government provides immediate clear direction as to what actions UNRWA can feasibly take in order that funding can be restored.”

UNRWA has long been criticised for its links to Hamas as well as for allowing violently anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli material to be taught in its schools.

In the wake of last year’s October 7 attacks on Israel, watchdog groups reported that dozens of UNRWA employees celebrated the massacres on social media.

This week Israeli officials handed down a report claiming to have identified 450 terrorists employed by Hamas.

Ed St John, CEO of Courage to Care, said the group “is a non-profit organisation which provides anti-discrimination programs in Australian schools.

“While many of our volunteers are Jewish, and our work often features the testimony of Holocaust survivors, we consider ourselves both non-religious and non-political … As such, we felt that Ms Spender’s position on the UNRWA issue would prove a distraction at our event.”

A spokesman for the Australian Jewish Association said, “Courage to Care has made the correct decision to remove Allegra Spender from her role as guest speaker at their 25th anniversary luncheon next week.”

“ Allegra Spender represents the electorate with the most Jewish residents in all of Australia (and) there is great anger in the Jewish community at her actions.”

“Politicians must understand that when they abandon a large group of their constituents, there are consequences.”

However Ms Spender defended her call, saying, “I don’t think anyone in my community wants to see desperate civilians left without food, water and medical support.

“I’ve joined with other independents to call on the Australian government to do all it can to make sure humanitarian aid reaches those people.

“The allegations against some UNRWA staff are very serious, but humanitarian aid is critical right now, and we need to find options for delivery of aid, either through other organizations if they have the infrastructure, or through UNRWA under clear conditions.

“Given strong feelings in the community about UNRWA, Courage for Care and I agreed that my presence would be distracting and I do not want this issue to distract from the vital fundraising efforts of Courage to Care.

“I will continue to stand up for the Jewish community,” she said.