What's happened
Italy and Austria have resumed funding for the UN Palestinian relief agency, UNRWA, after suspending aid due to allegations of staff involvement in a Hamas attack. Italy pledged 35 million euros, with 5 million euros for projects and the rest for the 'Food for Gaza' initiative. Austria will provide 3.4 million euros in 2024, with funds allocated to improve internal control mechanisms at UNRWA.
What's behind the headline?
What the papers say
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that the funding will be provided after rigorous checks to prevent support for terrorism. Al Jazeera reported that Italy's decision followed an independent review that found no evidence to support Israeli claims. Austria's foreign ministry mentioned that the decision to restore funding came after analyzing UNRWA's action plan to improve its operations.
How we got here
Italy and Austria, along with other donor states, suspended funding to UNRWA following allegations that some staff members were involved in a Hamas-led attack. The resumption of funding indicates a renewed trust in UNRWA's operations and a commitment to supporting Palestinian refugees in need of humanitarian assistance.
Go deeper
- How will the resumed funding impact the operations of UNRWA?
- Are there any other countries expected to follow Italy and Austria in resuming funding for UNRWA?
- What measures are being taken to ensure that aid reaches those in need effectively?
More on these topics
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The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees.
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The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
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Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.