According to two sources familiar with the matter, an agreement between leaders in the US Congress and the White House on a massive funding bill for the military, State Department, and several other government programs will continue to prohibit US funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) until March 2025.
President Joe Biden's administration announced in January the suspension of funding for the agency after Israel accused 12 of its 13,000 employees in Gaza of participating in the deadly October 7th attack launched by Hamas.
The US Senate passed legislation last month to halt funding for UNRWA, which was part of a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.
The legislation is still awaiting approval from the House of Representatives.
Supporters of aid are trying to restore the funding, urging Washington to support UNRWA at a time when relief groups are working to prevent an impending famine in Gaza.
The two sources familiar with the agreement stated that funding would be frozen for a year, and details of alternative efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza would be discussed after the legislation is published.
The White House and congressional leaders refrained from commenting on the agreement's specifics until spending bill texts are released.
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