Peter Dutton says Australian aid for UNRWA should be reconsidered

Peter Dutton says new revelations about the involvement of staff of a UN aid group in the October 7 attack on Israel is unacceptable.

Peter Dutton has called on the Albanese government to reconsider its funding of a UN aid organisation in Gaza following revelations staff “may have been involved” in the October 7 attack on Israel.

The United Nations said on Monday nine employees of UNRWA, its agency for Palestinian refugees, had been fired as a result of their possible involvement in the Hamas attack that killed 1200 Jews.

“It’s obviously a very significant revelation and not one that will come as a surprise to many people,” Mr Dutton told Sky News Australia on Tuesday.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says the Albanese government needs to reconsider its funding of UNRWA. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

“It should cause the Albanese government to reconsider their involvement, their engagement, their funding of UNRWA.

“It’s completely and utterly unacceptable that a UN agency would have employees involved in, or alleged to have been involved in, the October 7 tragedy.”

The Prime Minister on Tuesday welcomed the UN’s action on the issue, again condemning the “appalling” events of October 7.

“We resumed funding on the basis of the strong steps that had been taken to ensure that there was integrity in UNRWA operations,” Anthony Albanese.

“We paused those operations until we received those assurances that the integrity would be secured.

“It is a good thing that the United Nations have taken this action. We know that the events of October 7 were appalling, and we unequivocally condemn them, as would all who value human life.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the UN’s actions on the aid workers suspected of being members of Hamas. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Australia was among more than a dozen donor countries that paused funding to the UN’s Relief and Works Agency in late January after Israel alleged 12 staff members were involved in the Hamas attacks.

But in March, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced Australia would resume its $6m in funding to the United Nation’s “lifesaving” aid agency in Gaza.

She said at that time the government had received assurances that UNRWA itself was not a terrorist organisation, and additional safeguards would “sufficiently protect” Australian taxpayer funding.

UNRWA is tasked with helping the people of Gaza during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Picture: AFP

Assistant Minister for Trade Tim Ayres would not say how the government would react to the UN announcement.

“UNRWA is the only body that is capable of delivering food and other things that UNRWA does,” Mr Ayres told Sky News.

“It is a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, so the decision making in the government has been very deliberate and focused on achieving the right outcome.

“We’ll continue to monitor it very closely indeed.”