The Dutch government has decided not to provide any new financial support to the UN’s refugee agency UNRWA but does not rule out doing so in the future, aid minister Liesje Schreinemacher has told parliament in a briefing.

Before any additional funding is made available, the agency must follow recommendations on ensuring it operates in a neutral manner, Schreinemacher told MPs.

The recommendations are made in a report by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna.  She was appointed to look into the agency in February after Israel asserted at least 12 of its staffers had been involved in the Hamas attacks on Israel last October.

The cabinet agreed in January not to provide any more funding for UNRWA until there was clarity about the allegations. The decision was largely symbolic, given that 2024’s money had already been paid. 

Australia, Canada, Sweden and Japan have since restored their funding following the publication of the report, which says Israel has not provided proper evidence of its claims.