‘Save Palestinian Lives’: Fresh Calls for Australia to Reinstate UN Relief Funding to Gaza

Smoke rises during an explosion in Gaza, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel’s border with Gaza in southern Israel on March 5, 2024. (Amir Cohen/Reuters)

Australia is facing renewed calls to restore funding to the U.N. Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) after Canada and Sweden lifted their suspensions.

Multiple nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, and Japan paused aid to the U.N. agency in January after allegations emerged that employees were involved in the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has labelled the decisions by Canada and Sweden a “serious mistake.”

The United States has not restored its funding at this stage.

In Australia, the Greens are pressuring the Labor government to restore funding to “save Palestinian lives.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia was working with multiple donor countries to rebuild confidence in a statement on Monday.

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“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,” a spokesperson for Penny Wong told multiple media outlets.

Greens Deputy Leader Mehreen Faruqi called for the Labor government to reinstate UNRWA funding and “rapidly increase aid to save Palestinian lives” following the recent decision from Canada and Sweden.

“How many more horrifying images of famine-like conditions and starved Palestinians does the Labor Government need to see to restore life-saving funding to UNRWA?” she said.

“Children are being starved by Israel amidst the ruins of Gaza. Greens and the community have been out in full force calling on Minister Wong to restore UNRWA funding—which is the bare minimum she should do.”

Why Did Canada Restore Funding?

The Canadian government announced on March 8 it would be lifting its temporary pause on funding for the UNRWA for Gazan refugees in the near east.

In the view of the Canadian government, the U.N. now has a “zero tolerance for terror within the U.N.,” and has implemented several measures to combat the allegations against UNRWA staff.

In addition, Canada has also reviewed an interim report from the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services. A final report is still to be released.

Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen said Canada is resuming its funding to UNRWA so more can be done to respond to the urgent needs of Palestinian civilians.

“Canada will continue to take the allegations against some of UNRWA’s staff extremely seriously and we will remain closely engaged with UNRWA and the U.N. to pursue accountability and reforms,” he said.

“Since the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, Canada has centred its decisions on the protection of civilians. Both Israelis and Palestinians have the fundamental human right to live in peace, dignity, and security, without fear.”

Norway Minister for Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide welcomed the decision by Sweden and Canada to continue the funding on March 9, saying the situation was “desperate.”

“UNRWA is the lifeline for Gazans and crucial for Palestine refugees across the Middle East. The U.N. has addressed accusations in a timely manner,” he said.

Sweden announced it would restore funding and provide the UNRWA with $20 million to help the agency regain its “financial footing.”

However, the Israeli government has strongly condemned the move, calling on Canada and Sweden to cease the funding.

“The decisions by Canada and Sweden to restore funding to UNRWA—after having received the intelligence-based information about the organisation’s employees who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre and prior to the completion of the work of the investigative bodies and the publication of their findings—is a serious mistake that constitutes tacit agreement and support by the governments of Canada and Sweden to continuing to ignore the involvement of UNRWA employees in terrorist activity,” Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lior Haiat said.

“Israel calls on the governments of Canada and Sweden to stop the funding and not to support an organisation whose ranks include hundreds of members of the Hamas terrorist organisation.”

What Happened?

In January, an Israeli document shared with UNRWA and international officials alleged 12 UNRWA workers were involved in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Australia temporarily paused funding, like multiple other nations, while it consulted with international partners and engaged with UNRWA.

In January, the Australian government had announced $21.5 million (US$14.1 million) for Gaza, including $6 million for the organisation.

In early February, Ms. Wong revealed she was keen to restore confidence in UNRWA following discussions with commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini.

At the time, she said “no other organisation” could provide humanitarian assistance on the ground in the way UNRWA does.

Ms. Wong said what’s important to people on the ground is, “How do we restore confidence so, Australia, Canada, Japan, and others are in a position to provide further funding to UNRWA? That’s what matters.”

The United States also paused funding amid the allegations that 12 staff were involved in the Hamas terror attack on Israel.

“The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them,” U.S. Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said at the time.

On Jan. 27, Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham urged Australia to take the allegations seriously and pause funding to the UNRWA.

“Australia should join the Biden administration, take these allegations seriously and pause funding to UNRWA until completely confident it will not support violence or extremism,” Mr. Birmingham said.

“Humanitarian help to innocent civilians in Gaza is critical, but must be delivered by trusted partners.”