More than 99 percent of American dollars approved by Congress for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, or UNRWA, has been sent to the agency, the State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller, said on Tuesday.
The State Department paused the money “temporarily” on Friday after accusations by Israel that a dozen UNRWA employees participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, with some holding hostages within Gaza.
At least 17 other donor nations have also suspended their funding to the agency, according to the group U.N. Watch.
Human rights groups and progressive Democrats in Congress have denounced the move, saying that it will deprive innocent Palestinians of desperately needed aid.
But Mr. Miller said the State Department had sent all but $300,000 of about $121 million budgeted for UNRWA to the agency, suggesting that the near-term effect of the U.S. action within Gaza will be minor.
Persons:
Biden, Matthew Miller, “, Miller
Organizations:
State Department, Congress, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA
Locations:
Gaza, Israel