Australia has frozen aid to a UN agency for Palestinian refugees following security advice after allegations some staff helped attack Israel.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong also announced an additional $6 million in aid to the Gaza Strip after expressing dismay at the worsening humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.
In January, the Secretary of State froze funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) following claims by Israel that some staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong also announced an additional $6 million in aid to the Gaza Strip after expressing horror at the worsening humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave
A small number of agency staff were fired following the allegations.
The allegations warranted an immediate and appropriate response, Senator Wong said as she defended the decision to freeze aid.
“The Australian Government in light of such allegations need to ensure that we go through the process, we need to reassure Australians that we are able to ensure that the funding goes to the appropriate people and that is what we have done,” she said Friday.
‘The best advice available from agencies and Australian government lawyers is that UNRWA is not a terrorist organisation.’
Israel wanted the UN body disbanded and replaced after accusing it of being aligned with Hamas, a terrorist organization recognized by Australia.
The decision was criticized by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and the Australian Jewish Association, which argued there was a risk Australian money would be wasted or used by Hamas.
Israel presented only some of the evidence it relied on to make the allegation UNRWA staff participated in the Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 200 hostages, according to Tel Aviv.
It was being considered by Australia, the foreign minister said, and the government was also taking advice from security agencies and government lawyers.
“It’s a primary consideration in restoring funding to ensure that Australian funds are spent properly … it’s also a primary consideration to recognize that we have children and families who are going hungry,” she said.
A Palestinian holds pieces of pasta at the site of an Israeli attack on an aid depot amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas
The $6 million payment to UNRWA will come as Australia finalizes a new funding agreement with the agency that includes stricter oversight and assurances, including guarantees that staff remain neutral.
The safeguards allowed funding to resume, but there would be no tolerance for members of terrorist organizations working for UNRWA, Senator Wong said.
The move follows the reinstatement of funding from partners such as Canada, Sweden and the European Commission.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said Australia should have waited until the US had made a decision on recovery funding.
“If UNRWA funding were to be restored, it should have been done after the completion of independent analysis and verification work initiated by the UN,” he said.
‘It should only be done in consultation with a key partner like the US, which has the weight and influence to ensure that conditions are applied and verification processes are in place.’
Palestine’s envoy to Australia, Izzat Abdulhadi, welcomed the funding but also urged Australia to continue recognizing Palestine as a state after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled out a two-state solution.
Australia will also provide an additional $4 million to UNICEF to provide emergency services and $2 million to a UN coordinator to expand humanitarian access to Gaza.
In addition, a C-17A Globemaster aircraft will deliver 140 supply parachutes into the air to help Jordan and the United Arab Emirates fly relief supplies into Gaza.
The additional funding brings Australia’s total commitment to humanitarian aid to Gaza to $52.5 million.
More than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel retaliated against Hamas’ attack on October 7, according to the local health ministry.
The Foreign Secretary also addressed concerns about Palestinians fleeing Gaza having Australian visas canceled while en route.
The vast majority of Australian citizens, residents and immediate family members who wanted to leave the besieged strip had been helped, she said.
“All visa applicants go through security checks and are subject to an ongoing security assessment,” she said.