Dutch Government Considering UNRWA Funding Resumption After Neutrality Review
The Dutch government announced on Friday that it may restart funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip, contingent upon the agency implementing measures to enhance its neutrality.
This decision was made following an investigation led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, which was released on Monday, examining allegations that some UNRWA employees were implicated in the October 7 Hamas attack.
The Colonna-led review concluded that Israel had not provided sufficient evidence to substantiate its claims that hundreds of UNRWA staff were members of terrorist organizations in Gaza.
The Dutch government had already provided its annual contribution to UNRWA in January, prior to the accusations against the agency surfacing.
Several European countries halted funding for UNRWA following these allegations.
The Dutch government stated that it did not anticipate making any additional donations to UNRWA in the immediate future.
However, it expressed a willingness to consider the agency as a potential partner if humanitarian aid requests were made.