The US decision to withhold half of the aid it provides to Palestinians through the UN Relief and Works Agency was not aimed at punishing anyone but was due to a US desire to see reforms at the agency, the State Department said on Tuesday.
"This is not aimed at punishing" anyone, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a briefing. A US official said earlier Tuesday the United States had decided to provide $60 million in aid for Palestinians to UNRWA but would withhold $65 million "for future consideration."