UK to resume funding to UN Palestine relief agency Unrwa

David Lammy’s decision marks a rare split between the UK and the US on policy towards Gaza

Britain will restore funding to the UN’s Palestine relief agency Unrwa, the foreign secretary has announced, in Labour’s first major departure from the previous government’s stance towards the Middle East crisis.

David Lammy told MPs on Friday he had decided to unfreeze funding, which was suspended in January after Israel alleged that Unrwa staff were involved in the 7 October attack by Hamas. Catherine Colonna, the former French foreign minister, carried out a review of the allegations for the UN earlier this year but said she was given no evidence by the Israelis to back up their claims.