LONDON, July 19 — Britain’s new Labour government said today it would resume funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA and called on Israel to allow more aid to enter Gaza.

Britain was one of several countries to halt their funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) following accusations by Israel that some agency staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.

British foreign minister David Lammy told parliament he was reassured that the agency, which provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians, had taken steps to “ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality” and the government would now provide £21 million (RM127 million) in new funding.

Lammy said malnutrition in Gaza was now so severe that mothers could not produce breast milk for their children and the rates of diarrhoea were 40 times their normal rates and polio had been detected.

“Humanitarian aid is a moral necessity in the face of such a catastrophe, and it is aid agencies who ensure UK support reaches civilians on the ground,” he said.

“UNRWA is absolutely central to these efforts. No other agency can deliver aid at the scale needed.”

Other countries including Japan, Germany, Italy, Australia and Canada have resumed funding to the agency.

Israel accuses UNRWA of complicity with Hamas, saying the militant Islamist group was embedded within the UN agency’s infrastructure.

A review, led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, published in April said Israel had not provided evidence for its accusations that hundreds of are members of militant groups.

In February, Britain’s then-foreign minister David Cameron said he wanted an “absolute guarantee” that UNRWA would not employ staff who were willing to attack Israel.

Cameron was replaced by Lammy as foreign minister following the Labour Party’s July 4 election win. 

— Reuters


ICJP relieved to see UNRWA funding finally restored, but UK government must now go further


JULY 19, 2024
LATEST

London, 19th July 2024- The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is relieved to see UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) funding finally restored, following Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s announcement in the House of Commons. The news comes ten days after ICJP wrote to the foreign Office demanding that UNRWA funding be immediately restored.

UNRWA is the single largest provider of aid in both Gaza and the wider region, and funding for the organisation is vital to alleviate the effects of Israel’s genocide and the threat of famine resulting from Israel’s intentional restriction of aid and use of starvation as a weapon of war.

Following unsubstantiated claims by the Israeli government that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the 7th October attacks, 18 countries suspended funding to UNRWA. The UK took the decision to pause funding on the 27th January 2024. 

In April 2024, an UN-commissioned independent report called the Colonna report found that UNRWA had robust frameworks to ensure compliance with humanitarian neutrality principles. Despite these findings, the UK government still delayed restoring funding, even when many other countries restored it.

In March 2024, ICJP supported a pre-action letter for a legal challenge against the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which was issued by Bindmans LLP. The legal challenge alleges that this was decided illogically and without due consideration of evidence, of international obligations, or of FCDO decision-making frameworks.

It is truly the bare minimum that funding has finally been restored, but it is a small step in the right direction. But with the threat of famine so high, UNRWA funding must now be increased, to try limit the damage of Israel’s genocide and use of starvation as a weapon of war. ICJP also calls on the UK government to condemn Israel for its efforts to restrict aid from entering Gaza, as well as its efforts to designate UNRWA as a terrorist organisation. 

Also, whilst restoration of UNRWA funding is a key step, the UK government must ensure it is not complicit in Israel’s war crimes and crimes against humanity by also ending arms sales to Israel. Similarly, it must not interfere in the International Criminal Court’s applications for arrest warrants for potential Israeli war criminals Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.

Senior Legal Officer Dania Abul Haj said:

“The UK is amongst the last countries to restore UNRWA funding. If anything, this is critical proof that foreign policy decisions cannot be based on unsubstantiated claims and accusation made by a state that has lied time and time again.

While the restoration of funding is a step, it is not good enough on its own. Many Palestinians have died as a direct result of UNRWA not being able to carry out its mandate and get aid where it needs to be. Now, more than ever, the UK has a duty to make up for the lack of support over the last few months.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

  1. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians is an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
  2. ICJP’s press release on the legal challenge pre-action letter against the Foreign Office regarding UNRWA funding can be viewed here.
  3. ICJP’s press release on the Colonna report can be viewed here.
  4. For more information, or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the ICJP news desk at press@icjpalestine.com. 


Government ends suspension of funding to UN agency for Palestinian refugees


© UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor

David Lammy has announced that the government is overturning the suspension of funding to the United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees and pledged £21m of new funds to the body.

Addressing the Commons this morning, the Foreign Secretary also said government officials are currently undertaking a “comprehensive review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law” in Gaza and that he will update MPs again once the process is complete.

Lammy told the Commons that the situation in the Middle East “has been a priority from day one because of the desperate situation in Gaza and the serious risk of escalation in Lebanon in particular”.

He said: “Britain wants an immediate ceasefire. The fighting must stop, the hostages must be released, much much more aid must enter Gaza. Israel promised a flood of aid back in April but imposes impossible and unacceptable restrictions. And there must be deescalation on the Israeli-Lebanese border.”

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Describing reports from aid agencies in Gaza as “devastating”, Lammy said: “Humanitarian aid is a moral necessity in the face of such a catastrophe, and it is aid agencies who ensure UK support reaches civilians on the ground.

“UNRWA [the UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine] is absolutely central to these efforts. No other agency can deliver aid at the scale needed.”

He told MPs: “I was appalled by the allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7th of October attacks. But the UN took these allegations seriously. I’ve spoken to UN secretary-general Guterres and commissioner Lazzarini.

“We are reassured that, after Catherine Colonna’s independent review, UNRWA is ensuring they meet the highest standards of neutrality and strengthening its procedures including on vetting.

“UNRWA has acted. Partners like Japan, the European Union and Norway have also now acted. This government will act too. I can confirm to the House that we are overturning the suspension of UNRWA funding.”

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Lammy announced Britain will provide £21m in new funds, “some directed at supporting the management reforms recommended by the Colonna review”, adding: “UNRWA supports more than five-and-a-half million Palestinians. Almost 200 of their staff have died through this conflict. I thank them for this life-saving work.”

The government said following the announcement that development minister Anneliese Dodds will meet UNRWA commissioner-general Lazzarini today to discuss how the new funding will support the aid agency’s work and condemn the killing of UNRWA workers in the conflict.

Lammy said he has been discussing with partners “the need for planning for what follows” the current conflict, including on reconstruction and governance and security, telling MPs the government’s “overarching goal” is a “viable, sovereign Palestinian State alongside a safe and secure Israel”.

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“We are committed to playing a full diplomatic role in a renewed peace process and to contributing to that process by recognising a Palestinian state at a time we determine, not anyone else,” he added.

The Foreign Secretary declared that the government’s “commitment to international law is clear”, adding: “We are following the necessary processes.

“As soon as I took office, I tasked officials with a comprehensive review of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law, and that process is now underway. I will update the House again once the process is complete.”