UPDATED: Britain and Italy suspend financing for UNRWA

ROME, Jan 27 (Reuters) – Italy has decided to suspend financing of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday.

The decision follows allegations that some UNRWA workers were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel carried out by Palestinian militant group Hamas, though Tajani made no direct reference to those suspicions.

“The Italian government has suspended financing of the UNRWA after the atrocious attack on Israel on October 7,” Tajani posted on social media platform X, adding that some of Italy’s allies had already taken the same decision.

Later in the day, Britain said it has joined the U.S in “temporarily pausing” future funding for the United Nations’ agency for Palestinians in Gaza, while it reviews “concerning allegations” that UNRWA staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

“The UK is appalled by allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned,” the UK Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday.

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