UK: reinstatement of UNRWA funding was 'long overdue'

Responding to an announcement by the Foreign Secretary David Lammy in the House of Commons today that the UK will restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency after it was suspended in January, Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said:

“Cutting off funding to UNRWA was an unjustifiable decision and we’re relieved that the new Government has taken the long overdue step of restoring UK funding for UNRWA’s vital life-saving work.

“Amid Israel’s unrelenting bombardment and blockade, UNRWA’s role is critical in trying to assist Palestinian civilians in Gaza facing airstrikes, famine and disease, and it’s these civilians who were punished by the UK’s decision in January.

“The new Foreign Secretary’s commitment to review Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law is also welcome, but Palestinians in Gaza can’t wait for action from the UK.

“Given the overwhelming evidence of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza and the risk of further atrocities, the UK should suspend arms transfers to Israel immediately.

“We want to see a new UK commitment to justice and human rights in the Israel-Palestine crisis, with the UK calling for Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza to end immediately, ministers wholeheartedly supporting the ICC’s ongoing Palestine investigation, and the Government finally accepting that Israel’s system of apartheid against the Palestinians must be opposed in the same way much of the world opposed the abomination of apartheid in South Africa.”