Media reports indicate that Germany will resume previously suspended funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
In a joint statement, the German Foreign Ministry and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development announced, "The German government will soon resume cooperation with UNRWA in the Gaza Strip, following the lead of Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan."
Earlier this week, UN Secretary-General António Guterres accepted the recommendations of an independent investigative team that examined evidence of UNRWA's alleged involvement in terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip. The team concluded that UNRWA remained neutral and that "Israel has not proven the involvement of agency employees in terrorism." Guterres agreed with UNRWA's head, Philippe Lazzarini, to develop a plan to implement the commission's recommendations. He also called on all stakeholders to actively support UNRWA, stating that it is "the only lifeline for Palestinian refugees in the region."
The report, conducted by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, found that "Israel has failed to provide evidence of allegations that UNRWA employees in the Gaza Strip are linked to terrorist organizations."
According to the report, UNRWA "is indispensable for Palestinians in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank (referred to as Judea and Samaria by Israel)." It noted that while stronger mechanisms to ensure neutrality can be implemented, UNRWA has already made significant progress in audits and internal controls to ensure compliance with humanitarian principles.
It is worth noting that Israel claims that at least 12 UNRWA employees were directly involved in the massacre on October 7, with another 30 aiding or assisting in the attacks, and alleges that 12% of the organization's employees are associated with terrorist groups.
