LONDON - Britain's new Labour government said on Friday (July19) it would resume funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA in the first major change in how it will approach the Israel-Palestinian conflict after winning power earlier this month.

Britain was one of several countries to halt their funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) following accusations by Israel that some agency staff were involved in the Oct 7 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.

British foreign minister David Lammy told parliament he was reassured that the agency, which provides education, health and aid to millions of Palestinians, had taken steps to ensure it has the "highest standards of neutrality", including improving vetting.

Lammy said the UNRWA is the backbone of aid operations in Gaza helping feed about half of the territory's population, and the government would provide 21 million pounds (S$36 million) in new funding to the agency.

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