January 31, 2025 | 09:38 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government of Norway stated on Thursday, January 30, 2025, that they will donate US$24 million, or around Rp390 billion, to the UN refugees agency (UNRWA). As reported by Arab News, this occurred on the same day when Israel banned UNRWA from operating in East Jerusalem.
"Gaza is in ruins, and UNRWA’s help is more necessary than ever," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in a statement. "It is extremely dramatic for Palestine that Israeli laws come into force that in practice can prevent UNRWA from working."
Starting Thursday, UNRWA is banned from operating in Israeli territories, and contacts between UNRWA and Israeli officials are also forbidden. The Israeli Supreme Court on Wednesday night rejected a challenge to the ban.
UNRWA has been providing support for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East for over 70 years, and it is said that they have delivered 60 percent of the food aid that has reached Gaza since the beginning of the Israeli onslaught in 2023.
Israeli officials have repeatedly accused UNRWA of sheltering Palestinian militants and undermining the country's security. Hostilities escalated after Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, with allegations that a small number of UNRWA employees participated in the attack.
A series of investigations, including those led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, found some "neutrality-related issues" at UNRWA. However, citing Reuters, Israel has yet to provide evidence to back their accusation against UNRWA members.
Many donors have ceased their support for UNRWA following these allegations, although almost all donors have resumed their funding.
The relationship between Norway and Israel has deteriorated in recent years, especially after the Scandinavian country recognized Palestine alongside Spain and Ireland last May.
Editor’s Choice: Norway Wealth Fund Divests from Israel's Bezeq Over Services to West Bank Settlements
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