A United Nations agency accused by Israel of having been infiltrated by Hamas terrorists has the “resolute support” of Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Unmoved by recent claims that UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) staff “regularly” meet with terrorists, and that they teach young Palestinians to “fight back and resist,” Starmer also announced an additional £13 million (€15.77 million) in funding.
Agency Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, who has been challenged to sue his critics if he really believes they are wrong, said he was “very pleased” to meet the British PM and to discuss with him the “disastrous impact” of Israel’s ban on UNRWA operations within its territory.
UK officials later told the UN General Assembly that “we unequivocally reject attempts to undermine or degrade UNRWA,” describing Israel’s ban as “unacceptable.”
UNRWA has an unequivocal mandate from the UN membership to provide life-saving aid to thousands of Palestinians in need. The UK continues to support UNRWA to deliver important reforms which can further strengthen their commitment to neutrality.
Restarting funding to UNRWA was one of the Starmer government’s first actions following the July general election, despite persistent claims that its workers were involved in the October 7th terror attacks.
Responding to Labour’s doubling down on support, senior Conservative MP Robert Jenrick said that “the UK Government should not be providing any aid to UNRWA until it has has ridded [sic] itself of Hamas operatives.”
Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel added that “ministers have now committed more taxpayers’ money to UNRWA, but they need to prove to us that the £21 million (€25.5 million) of funding they released in summer reached those most in need.”
Securing the release of hostages in Gaza, getting more aid in to alleviate the humanitarian crisis faced, and establishing a sustainable peace must be a priority for the Government. The Prime Minister needs to explain how these priorities were advanced in his discussions with Philippe Lazzarini.
