Germany has announced its intention to resume funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), following in the footsteps of other countries like Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan. The German Foreign Ministry and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development issued a joint statement expressing their commitment to continuing cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza Strip.
The announcement comes after an independent investigative team concluded that UNRWA remained neutral and that Israel had not provided evidence of agency employees being involved in terrorist activities. UN Secretary-General António Guterres accepted the findings of the report and urged all stakeholders to actively support the agency, which he described as the only hope for Palestinian refugees in the region.
A report authored by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna highlighted the importance of UNRWA for Palestinians in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. While acknowledging that UNRWA could strengthen mechanisms to ensure neutrality, the report noted progress in areas like audits and internal controls to uphold humanitarian principles.
Israel has previously alleged that UNRWA employees in Gaza were involved with terrorist organizations, claiming that some were directly involved in attacks. However, an independent report found that Israel had not provided evidence to substantiate these allegations. The report emphasized the crucial role UNRWA plays in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees and called for continued support for the agency.
The decision by Germany to resume funding for UNRWA is a positive step towards ensuring that Palestinians receive vital assistance during this difficult time. It is important that all countries continue to work together to support this critical agency so that it can continue its mission of helping those who need it most.
