Rome: Italy has announced the resumption of funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) as part of a comprehensive 35 million euro ($38 million) aid package, stated Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Saturday. Tajani affirmed this commitment during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, who also engaged in discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Rome.
Meloni conveyed Italy’s support for endeavors aimed at achieving a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, securing the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and enhancing humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza, as per her office’s statement.
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Foreign Minister Tajani specified that five million euros would be allocated to UNRWA projects, while the remainder would support the “Food for Gaza” initiative. Italy had been among the nations halting aid to UNRWA following allegations by Israel that some of the agency’s personnel were implicated in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which ignited the Gaza conflict.
“Italy has decided to resume financing specific projects to aid Palestinian refugees only after stringent scrutiny ensuring that not a single cent risks being diverted to support terrorism,” Tajani emphasized.
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UNRWA, which employs 13,000 individuals in Gaza, oversees the enclave’s educational institutions, primary healthcare facilities, social services, and humanitarian aid distribution. In recent weeks, several countries have recommenced funding for the agency. Germany, for instance, announced last month its intention to resume cooperation with UNRWA following an assessment led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna into UNRWA’s protocols for upholding principles of neutrality.
