The Guardian reports:

Britain will restore funding to the UN’s Palestine relief agency Unrwa, the foreign secretary has announced, in Labour’s first major departure from the previous government’s stance towards the Middle East crisis.

David Lammy told MPs on Friday he had decided to unfreeze funding, which was suspended in January after Israel alleged that Unrwa staff were involved in the 7 October attack by Hamas. Catherine Colonna, a former French foreign minister, carried out a review of the allegations for the UN earlier this year but said she was given no evidence by the Israelis to back up their claims.

Lammy’s decision marks a rare split between the UK and the US on policy towards Gaza, leaving the US as the only country not to have restored funding.

Lammy told the Commons: “I was appalled by the allegations that Unrwa staff were involved in the 7 October attacks. But the UN took these allegations seriously … We are reassured that after Catherine Colonna’s independent review, Unrwa is ensuring they meet the highest standards of neutrality and strengthening its procedures including on vetting.”

He added: “Unrwa has acted. Active partners like Japan, the European Union and Norway have also now acted. This government will act. I can confirm to the house that we are overturning the suspension of Unrwa funding.” [Continue reading…]