The Norwegian government says it will contribute USD 24 million in new funding to UNRWA.

This amounts to NOK 275 million.

UNRWA, the UN’s organisation for Palestinian refugees, is being allocated these funds on the same day that Israel banned the group from operating on Israeli territory, writes Times and Israel.

– Gaza is in ruins, and UNRWA’s help is needed more than ever,” said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide in a press release.

– It is very dramatic for Palestine that Israeli laws are coming into force that could effectively prevent UNRWA from working.

As of Thursday, Israel has imposed a ban on UNRWA from operating on Israeli soil, and contact between the organisation and Israeli officials is prohibited. Israel’s Supreme Court rejected an appeal against the ban late on Wednesday.

Eide says it is particularly serious that the decision comes at a time when all forces should be supporting the implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, writes NTB.

– It is important now that the international community provides UNRWA with political and financial support so that all the Palestinian refugees in the region can continue to receive vital aid and services, says Eide.

Several UNRWA employees are known to have participated in the terrorist attack on 7th of October, and several thousand UNRWA employees are associated with Hamas through close contacts or family.

Recently, it became known that several of the hostages have been staying at locations under UNRWA’s control. Foreign Minister Barth Eide has been denied access to Israel, and Israel’s ambassador to Norway has left the country.

Today, two Israeli hostages, Arbel Yehoud and Gadi Mozes, were released under chaotic conditions. At the same time, the female soldier Agam Berger was reunited with her family.

The reunion we’ve been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/84oI7et5pn

– Israel Defence Forces (@IDF) January 30, 2025

In addition, five hostages from Thailand were released.