Albanese government tells UNRWA it must be sure Gaza aid funding will go ‘to those who need it’

Penny Wong, who was not present at the meeting, has conceded during Senate estimates hearings that she is yet to see detailed evidence underpinning allegations of UNRWA involvement in the 7 October Hamas attacks. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

The Albanese government has told the UN Relief and Works Agency that Australia needs confidence that aid will go to those who need it in Gaza, as calls grow to reinstate at least $6m in funding to the organisation.

Guardian Australia has learned that staffers from the office of the foreign minister, Penny Wong, met on Tuesday with Tom White, the director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, to discuss the “acute humanitarian situation” in the besieged territory.