Australia's Islamic and Jewish communities have conflicting feelings about the Federal Government's resumption of funding to the UN's aid organisation in Gaza, known as UNRWA, that Israel claims is funding terrorist activities.

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Australia's Islamic and Jewish communities are expressing divided reactions following the Federal Government's decision to resume funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The UNRWA is an aid organization operating in Gaza. The resumption of the funding has sparked controversy, especially given Israel's claims that UNRWA is involved in funding terrorist activities. 

This decision implicates not just the Australian government's stance on international humanitarian efforts but also touches on the delicate and complex geopolitical tensions involving Israel and Gaza. The differing perspectives within Australia's religious communities underscore the complexity of international relations and humanitarian aid, particularly in conflict zones. 



Mixed reactions as UNRWA funding resumes

At evening prayers, worshippers can only hope for more help for Gazans. Perth's Islamic community feels helpless as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Very hurt to see our brothers and sisters dying, especially when aid is brought to them. The people that are delivering that aid are getting bombed, you know, so this is something that's despicable. The government will resume $6 million of funding for the UN's primary aid agency operating inside Gaza, UNRWA, after hitting pause last year. This local imam cautiously welcomes the aid, but doesn't think it's enough. I guess it may be a case of better late than never, as opposed to hopefully not too little too late. Canada and the European Union will also resume funding to UNRWA, but the US won't yet. Australian Islamic leaders say Australia's freeze on aid should never have happened in the first place, while the Jewish community has condemned the Australian government, saying the resumption of aid funding is premature. Jewish people in Perth are upset the federal government didn't wait for the results of a United Nations investigation into the allegations. It hasn't waited to the end of those, it's just simply turning the tap back on and sending Australian taxpayer dollars to UNRWA, which is most likely going to aid Hamas's war efforts. He believes the government has bowed to political pressure, and is worried about what he sees as growing anti-Semitism in Australia. I know that there is significant anxiety, I myself feel significant anxiety about the open expression of anti-Semitism. A foreign policy debate, upsetting and close to home for Jewish and Muslims alike.

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