Heat on Labor to resume Gaza aid funding for UNRWA

The Albanese government is under pressure to follow the lead of Sweden and reinstate funding for the UNRWA, having previously halted contributions over concerns of Hamas affiliation.

Australia suspended funding to the UNRWA agency in response to Israeli allegations that some of its staff members participated in the October 7 attack by Hamas militants. Picture: AFP

The Albanese government is under pressure to follow the lead of Sweden and reinstate funding for a UN aid body, having previously halted contributions over concerns of Hamas affiliation.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was set to receive $6m in aid from Australia before Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong announced a suspension to funding in January.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for Senator Wong said the government was working to form a consensus on the UNRWA with other donor countries, but would come to its own decision on whether to reinstate funding.

“The Australian government has been working with a group of donor countries, who also paused funding, on the shared objective of rebuilding confidence and ensuring aid flows to Gazans in desperate need,” the spokesperson said.

The Swedish government announced on Sunday it would match the decision of the European Union and Canada, resuming funding for UNRWA.

The Israeli government alleged that several UNRWA staff took part in the October 7 attacks, and had previously claimed that the humanitarian body was affiliated with extremist Palestinian causes.

The Israeli Defense Force accused 12 UNRWA employees of participating in the October 7 attacks, leading to a wave of funding suspensions from international governments.

Former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna is filing a report on the investigation that is expected to be published next month. It will determine whether or not UNRWA resources were funnelled into Hamas or militant Palestinian causes at any time.

Major powers such as the UK, US and New Zealand are yet to reinstate funding.

Senator Wong has previously cited the UNRWA as the only organisation likely to have the appropriate capacity and resources to supply humanitarian aid inside the Gaza Strip.

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong. Picture: Getty Images

On Sunday, independent senator Lidia Thorpe claimed that Senator Wong was “too scared” to reinstate UNRWA funding.

“All she (Senator Wong) has to do is release the funds to ensure that humanitarian aid is available yesterday, the day before. Not next week, urgently,” she said at a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne.

“Penny Wong is too scared of others in her government, like the Attorney-General, who holds the key to genocide in this country.”

Current estimates from the Palestinian Health Ministry place the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza at 30,878. It is alleged that the majority of those dead were non-combatants.

Former minister and Labor Friends of Israel co-convener Michael Kelly urged the Albanese government on Saturday not to restore funding to the UN’s aid agency in Gaza until sufficient measures have been taken to sever its ties with Hamas.

The UNRWA is conducting its own independent review of employees following the allegations made by the Israeli government, and is working to improve its internal oversight.