The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said that $267 million in its funding was still suspended over allegations some UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, AFP reports.

“It’s money we were aware which was committed and which remains suspended for the agency. The total amount is $267m. The bulk of it comes from the United States,” UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini told a press conference in Geneva.

He said that up to 16 countries had suspended contributions to UNRWA following the allegations in January but as of Tuesday, “most of the donor countries have resumed their contribution to the agency.

“We just have a handful of countries that still need to make a decision,” he said, citing Britain and Austria among them.

Switzerland is due to take a decision on whether to resume support on Wednesday.

Lazzarini said countries which had never donated to UNRWA before were now coming forward with contributions, including Algeria.

Over the last six months, more than $115 million had also been raised in private donations, “which is an indication of the extraordinary grassroots solidarity expressed towards Palestinians and also to the agency”, he added.

He said the agency had the money to keep running until the end of June, but noted that during his tenure since 2020, the agency had rarely been able to look more than two to three months ahead financially.