‘40,000 Palestinians Are Starving’: Foreign Minister Weighs in on UN Funding Pause in Gaza

Armed supporters of Yemen's Huthi rebels attend a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian Hamas movement's armed resistance against Israel in the capital Sanaa on Jan. 29, 2024, amid the continuing battles between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza. Since shortly after the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza broke out on Oct. 7, the Huthis have launched a spate of missile and drone attacks on passing commercial ships in the Red Sea which they say are linked to Israel. Mohammed Huwais/AFP via Getty Images

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has shed light on the humanitarian work of a U.N. relief agency operating in Gaza amid Australia pausing funding on Jan. 27.

Australia joined multiple nations in suspending funding to the U.N. Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) after allegations emerged that staff may have been involved in the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel.

However, the opposition raised concerns about these possible links to Hamas a few weeks ago.

The attacks by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7 killed more than 1,200 and led to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring “we are at war.”

The United States, Canada, Germany, Finland, Japan and the United Kingdom are among other nations that have paused funding to the U.N. relief agency.

However, Ms. Wong said thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are starving during a joint press conference with New Zealand allies in Melbourne.

She noted Australian governments have been funding the U.N. relief agency since 1951, highlighting it is the only organisation delivering “substantive support.”

“Can I also remind people what is happening in Gaza at the moment—we have reports from the U.N. that 400,000 Palestinians in Gaza are actually starving and a million are at risk of starvation,” Ms. Wong said.

“More than 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering within UNRWA facilities. And 3,000 of the workers for that association are working on the humanitarian response in the most trying of conditions. That is the context in which Australia and Australians provide humanitarian assistance to UNRWA.”

The Australian government announced $6 million (US$3.9 million) would be provided to the UNRWA on Jan. 16 for urgent lifesaving assistance, including food, shelter, and emergency healthcare.

However, at the time, opposition home affairs spokesperson James Paterson raised concerns about funding to the UNRWA, explaining it had been linked to Hamas in the past.

“UNRWA is an organisation which we cannot be assured Australian taxpayers money is well spent and I do want the government to be able to reassure Australians that taxpayers money won’t end up finding its way to Hamas because they funded UNRWA,” he said on Jan. 17.

Shadow foreign minister Simon Birmingham also urged Australia to pause funding for the UNRWA after news emerged that the U.S. was taking action.

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

What are the Allegations?

An Israeli document shared with UNRWA and international officials details allegations against 12 UNRWA workers allegedly involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Seven were said to have stormed Israeli territory; one helped steal a soldier’s body, and another participated in a kidnapping.

Ten were listed with ties to Hamas and one with an Islamic Jihad militant group, while two of them have now been killed, the document said.

The relief agency has terminated the contracts of involved staff members and launched an investigation to establish the truth “without delay.”

UNRA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini said any employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including via criminal prosecution.

“UNRWA reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the abhorrent attacks of Oct. 7, and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages and their safe return to their families,” Mr. Lazzarini said.

“These shocking allegations come as more than 2 million people in Gaza depend on lifesaving assistance that the Agency has been providing since the war began. Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza, across the region and elsewhere around the world.”

Foreign Minister Directs Humanitarian Coordinator to Coordinate with UNRWA

Ms. Wong noted Australia has made clear the allegations are “deeply concerning” but revealed she has directed Australia’s humanitarian coordinator to coordinate with the UNRWA and like-minded partners.

“We have made clear that they need to be thoroughly investigated and those responsible need to be held account. And I have directed this week Australia’s Humanitarian Coordinator to lead urgent work coordinating with like-minded partners as well UNRWA on these and other matters,” Ms. Wong said.

“But I think it is important that we remember why it is, that previous governments have funded this organisation, but also the scale of the humanitarian crisis and the absence of any alternatives. If we are serious about trying to ensure that fewer children are starving. That is what we are faced with.”

The U.S. has paused funding to the UNRWA while they review allegations and the “steps the United Nations is taking to address them.”

The U.S. welcomed the U.N.’s decision to conduct an investigation and “comprehensive and independent” assessment and review.

President Biden’s U.N. ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said on Jan. 30 that there needs to be “fundamental changes” to the UNRWA before funding is resumed.

Ms. Thomas-Greenfield reiterated that the U.S. was “extremely troubled” by allegations that 12 UNRWA employees may have been involved in the attack on Oct. 7.

“UNRWA brought this information to us, and they are conducting an investigation. They’re taking it very seriously. So, I’m not going to get ahead of the investigation that they are conducting, but I know that we need to see fundamental changes before we can resume providing funding directly to UNRWA.”