UK aid to the West Bank and Gaza Strip: FAQs

This research briefing addresses questions about UK aid to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and aid access to Gaza.

The Commons Library research briefing, Israel and the OPTs: UK response to the conflict since July 2024 provides a summary of events in the 2023/24 Israel-Hamas conflict, the UK response, and negotiations on a ceasefire.

In line with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office practice when reporting past UK aid spending, this briefing primarily uses the term “West Bank and Gaza Strip” rather than The Occupied Palestinian Territories.

What is the humanitarian situation?

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) publishes daily updates on the humanitarian situation, including the level of humanitarian need, casualties, damage to infrastructure, and aid access (browse its homepage for ‘flash updates’ and ‘reported impact’). UN agencies report significant infrastructure damage, including to schools and hospitals, and the deaths of aid workers. They also warn that the risk of famine in Gaza “persists”. A vaccination campaign against polio is also being carried out.

The UK Government has backed UN Security Council resolutions demanding an increase of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and has called on Israel to adhere to its commitment to increase the number of trucks carry aid daily into Gaza to 500. UNOCHA figures from July report that the highest daily average occurred in April, when 169 trucks entered each day (this does not include fuel trucks). The UK has also called on Israel to re-open the Rafah crossing with Egypt, which has been closed since Israel captured the crossing on 8 May.

What UK aid has been committed?

For 2023/24, the UK committed over £100 million in aid to the OPTs (around US$126 million). A total of £35 million was provided to UNRWA before funding was suspended in January (see below). The UK has announced £52 million in specific pledges for 2024/25, including £10 million, via the World Bank, for the Palestinian Authority (in the West Bank), to pay public sector salaries, and for Unicef in Gaza. It also includes £21 million for UNRWA, announced in July.

How does the UK monitor its spending?

The UK Government states no aid is provided to Hamas, who have governed the Gaza Strip since 2007, and who are designated a terrorist organisation by the UK and are subject to UK sanctions.

Due to “prioritisation exercises” in the aid budget, the UK has not provided direct aid to Palestinian Authority since 2021, though some technical assistance is provided through commercial organisations.

The government says all UK aid to the OPTs “undergoes rigorous oversight”. This includes field visits, annual audits, due diligence assessments, and mapping of downstream partners of the funding.

The government also has a memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian Authority, in which the Authority commits to uphold the principles of non-violence, respect international law and commit to taking action against incitement to violence (among other principles of the memorandum). The UK raises any concerns directly with the Palestinian Authority.

Around half of UK aid to the West Bank and Gaza Strip is delivered through UNRWA and related bodies, rather than through local authorities or civil society groups.

Suspension of future funding to UNRWA

In January 2024, alongside other donors including the European Union and United States, the UK said it would pause future funding decisions on UNRWA in response to reports that “several” UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October Hamas assault against Israel. UNRWA sacked some staff following the allegations. The agency also called for donor funding to be resumed to ensure the continuity of its work. While the European Union, France and Germany have since resumed funding, the US has passed legislation disallowing funding until at least March 2025 (PDF).

In January, the UK Government said it had made all its planned contributions to UNRWA in the 2023/24 financial year (£35 million) before its decision to pause future funding. It said it would await the findings of two UN inquiry assessments and UNRWA making “detailed undertakings” before deciding.

The first report of two UN-commissioned investigations was published on 22 April. This set out 50 recommendations for UNRWA, including more screening of UNRWA staff. UNRWA and the UN accepted the recommendations in full, while Israel argued these were “cosmetic” changes and says it will no longer work with UNRWA. The review also noted that in 2024 Israel had not provided supporting evidence that UNRWA staff were members of terrorist groups.

Following the conclusion of the second review by the UN Office of Oversight Services (OIOS) in August 2024, UNRWA sacked nine staff who “may have been involved” in the 7 October 2023 assault. The OIOS noted that they had not been able to independently verify information provided by Israel to support allegations on UNRWA staff involvement in the assault.

In July 2024, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced UK funding would resume, and pledged £21 million in 2024, including £1 million to support reform. He welcomed the UN review and UNRWA’s implementation plan to ensure it meets the “highest standards of neutrality”. The government also said that it would monitor UNRWA’s progress on implementing its action plan and continue to conduct its own annual assessment of UK funding to UNRWA.