The UK Labour government has reinstated funding for UNRWA. [Picture: Mohammed Salem/Reuters]
Millions will be directed towards the United Nations agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), after the United Kingdom (UK) decided to resume funding. The move has been cautiously welcomed.
On Friday, foreign secretary, David Lammy, announced to the UK parliament that the new Labour government had decided to overturn an earlier suspension on funding to the agency. He also committed to provide 21 million pounds (R496 312 740.00) as Gaza buckled under bombardment.
But Dr Yvonne Ridley, a journalist and politician, shared the sentiment of many when she beseeched the public to be wary of the favourable move.
“It’s to be applauded,” she told Salaamedia. “But the full credit,” she added, “should really go to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that we’ve seen since October 7th in the streets of London and other major cities around the world, that have shown that ordinary people are no longer prepared to put up with this sort of cruelty from Israel.”
Despite the announcement by the new guard representing a step in the right direction, in solidarity with Palestine, she drew attention to the fact that Zionists hold prominent positions in the new government.
“I’d like to remind people that this Labour government has more cabinet ministers who are part of the Zionist organisation, Labour Friends of Israel. This is something that people are being made aware of now, and are concerned about how much influence the pro-Israeli lobby has on the British government,” she said.
The UK was among several countries that cut funding to UNRWA on the back of unsubstantiated claims by Israel that its staff were involved in the resistance attacks conducted last year.
