Austria Suspends Payments to UNRWA

The Austrian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that Austria will suspend payments to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) pending a full investigation into allegations that its staff were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. The ministry stated, "We urge UNRWA and the United Nations to conduct a comprehensive, swift, and thorough investigation into these allegations." In doing so, Austria joins the UK, Germany, the United States, Australia, Canada, and other countries in halting funding for the relief agency, which is a crucial source of support for the people of Gaza.