The Dutch government has restored its annual contribution to the UN aid organisation for Palestinian refugees to its former level of €19 million a year, aid minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma told parliament on Monday.

The previous government halted spending on UNRWA following claims by Israel that 12 of its workers helped Hamas during the October 7 attacks,

The move to restore the spending was included in the coalition agreement, even though the VVD is known to oppose the plan.

“There is an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and an escalation of violence in the Middle East, and UNRWA provides important humanitarian aid in Gaza and Lebanon,” Sjoerdsma said.

In addition, many of the recommendations made in a 2024 report into Israel’s claims about UNRWA have since been adopted, he said.

The minister also said the cabinet would continue to press for a diversification of humanitarian aid in Gaza, which involves giving support to the Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations.

Last week far right parties in parliament voted in favour of the trade and aid ministry budget because it included a continuation of the UNRWA blockade.

Ja21 and the fundamentalist Protestant group SGP have now demanded an explanation of why the aid spending has been put through as a separate issue.