The European Commission (EC) has recently announced an additional EUR 68 million in financial aid for Palestinians, supplementing the existing EUR 82 million designated for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in 2024. This move brings the total aid to EUR 150 million. An extra EUR 125 million for humanitarian aid in 2024 has also been allocated, with contracts for EUR 16 million made on the same day.
Previously, the EC had initiated a review of its funding decision for UNRWA following allegations that implicated UNRWA staff in the Hamas attacks on October 7. The EC’s decision to pursue the aid involves several reassurances from UNRWA, such as agreeing to review its personnel, launching an EU-assigned audit, and bolstering its internal investigation department.
The EC President, Ursula von der Leyen, has publicly stated her and the EC’s commitment to supporting innocent Palestinians caught up in the conflict, pointing to the dire conditions these individuals face.
An earlier announcement from the EC had placed a hold on additional UNRWA funding until the end of February due to the allegations. It was stated that future funding decisions would be influenced by the findings of a UN investigation and that UNRWA would be expected to agree to an audit by EU experts and strengthen internal investigation processes.
It should be noted that following the charges against UNRWA staffers, certain countries such as the United States and Canada suspended their support. Both countries, along with the EU, have designed Hamas as a terrorist organization.
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