BRUSSELS, March 1 (Reuters) – The European Union (EU) will make a first payment of 50 million euros of the 82 million euros allocated in 2024 to the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) , the European Commission announced on Friday, conditionally submitting two other payments to the UN agency, targeted by accusations of alleged involvement of some of its agents in the Hamas attacks on October 7 in Israel.
The Commission indicates in a press release that UNRWA has accepted the establishment of an audit carried out by external experts mandated by the EU to assess the “possible involvement” of its personnel in terrorist activities.
“Following letters with UNRWA, which confirms its commitments, the Commission will distribute a first tranche of 50 million euros out of the 82 million euros planned for UNRWA,” the press release indicates.
“The second and third installments of 16 million euros will be paid depending on the implementation of this agreement,” adds the Commission.
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The UN agency has been in turmoil since the revelation in January, based on Israeli information, of the alleged involvement of 12 of its agents in the deadly Hamas attacks against the Jewish state.
The European Commission also announced additional new aid of €68 million for the Palestinian population through the Red Cross and Red Crescent. (Reporting Gabriela Baczynska and Andrew Gray; French version Zhifan Liu, edited by Jean-Stéphane Brosse)
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