12 February 2024, Crikey, by Liyan Kayalifeb: Last week, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong admitted that she did not have all the facts before choosing to pause emergency funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and has asked Israel for more evidence behind its now weakened allegations against several UNRWA members.
Read More‘Shockingly amateurish’: Australian government delivers veiled rebuke to Israel over UN agency comments
3 February 2024, The Guardian, by Daniel Hurst: An Australian government insider has accused the Israeli ambassador of making “shockingly amateurish and counterproductive” comments in a rift over the potential to reinstate funding to a key UN agency.
Read MoreWong, Dutton spar over cut in aid to Gaza
3 February 2024, The Age, by Matthew Knott: Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has hit back at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for insisting she be sacked if the federal government resumes funding for the United Nations’ key humanitarian agency in the Palestinian territories. The stoush between Dutton and Wong came as Israel’s ambassador to Australia accused the government of appearing to forget Hamas’ responsibility for the October 7 attack in the latest sign of tense relations between Israel and Australia.
Read MoreAid Diverted to Terror
30 January 2024, Herald-Sun, by Kathryn Bermingham with Ellen Ransley, Eleanor Campbell and NCA NewsWire: The federal government has been accused of ignoring warnings about the involvement of UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) workers before an extra $6m for the agency was announced on January 16.
Read MoreAustralia pauses $6m aid as UN investigates claims over attack
28 January 2024, The Age & Sydney Morning Herald / AP, by Natassia Chrysanthos: Australia will pause its $6 million humanitarian aid package to the United Nations agency for Palestinians in Gaza as the organisation investigates allegations that 12 of its staff may have been involved in the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7.
Read MoreIsrael wants UNRWA replaced as countries pause funding
28 January 2024, Canberra Times / Australian Associated Press: Six European countries have paused funding for the UN refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) following allegations that some of its staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Read MoreHuman rights groups say Australian government must act after ICJ ruling on allegation against Israel
27 January 2024, ABC, by Chantelle Al-Khouri: The Australian government has been “put on notice” by several human rights organisations following the top UN court ruling that South Africa’s accusation Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people is “plausible”.
Read More‘Hague shmague’: Israel reacts to ruling
26 January 2024, The New Daily: The World Court has ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians but stopped short of ordering a ceasefire as requested by the plaintiff South Africa.
Read MoreOur Aid Money Directed at Wrong Organisation
Late Friday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced a doubling of Australian aid to $20 million annually for the UN agency serving the Palestinian Arabs.
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