Australia Resumes Aid to UN Palestinian Aid Agency

FILE - Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong addresses the 78th session of the UNGA, Sept. 22, 2023, at United Nations headquarters. Wong said, March 15, 2024, the government will resume funding to UNRWA, which is providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian children wait to receive food in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip during the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, March 13, 2024.

Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Friday the government will resume funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which is providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. In January, Australia joined several Western nations in suspending funding to UNRWA after Israeli intelligence suggested a dozen of its workers had been linked to the October 7 attack by Hamas militants. Australia is also being criticized for canceling the visas of several Palestinians fleeing the conflict with Israel in Gaza. The Australia Greens party says the move “shows a lack of humanity.”