Israel was hit by an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, with Hamas movement's troops infiltrating border areas. On October 8, the Israeli government announced that it had invoked Article 40 of the Basic Law, which means the country was officially in a state of war.

Saudi Arabia to Allocate $40 Million to UNRWA for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza Strip

08:29, 21 March 2024

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Recently, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said Israel had shared with UNRWA data on the alleged involvement of some of the agency's staff members in the Hamas attack. Later, Lazzarini said that he is not concerned about the local staff the agency employs, regardless of Israeli claims.

Sputnik

Saudi Arabia will allocate $40 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for its humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip amid the humanitarian crisis in the enclave, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) said on Wednesday.

"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, enhances its funding to UNRWA with $40 million to support lifesaving operations in Gaza," the center said on X.

The additional funding will help provide food for more than 250,000 people and shelter for about 200,000 people, the organization added.

UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in the Gaza Strip, with over 2 million people depending on it for their survival.

In January, Israel shared data with UNRWA's leadership on the alleged involvement of some of the agency's staff in Palestinian movement Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023. Several countries, including the United States, Finland, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom, suspended funding for UNRWA. Canada, Sweden and Australia have lifted their suspensions of UNRWA funding after a pause of more than two months.