Saudi Arabia has announced it will donate $40 million to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) which has faced massive funding cuts and calls for its abolition spearheaded by Israel, AFP reports.

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) said the funds would support UNRWA’s “humanitarian relief efforts in the Gaza Strip”, where the Israeli bombardment has raged for more than five months.

“The funding will provide food for more than 250,000 people and tents for 20,000 families,” KSrelief said in a statement.

“It is crucial to address the desperate needs of the people in Gaza,” said KSrelief chief Abdullah al-Rabeeah.