Germany has announced its decision to resume funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as reported by various media outlets. This move follows similar actions taken by Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan.
In a joint statement, the German Foreign Ministry and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development expressed their commitment to continue working with UNRWA in the Gaza Strip. The decision comes after an independent investigative team led by UN Secretary-General António Guterres concluded that UNRWA remained neutral and that Israel had not provided evidence of agency employees being linked to terrorist activities.
Earlier this week, Guterres supported UNRWA’s efforts to implement the commission’s recommendations and called on all stakeholders to support the organization as it plays a vital role in providing assistance to Palestinian refugees. A report prepared by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna highlighted the importance of UNRWA for Palestinians in various regions, including Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank. The report acknowledged that while there may be room for strengthening mechanisms to ensure neutrality, UNRWA had already made progress in improving audits and internal controls to uphold humanitarian principles.
Israel had previously accused UNRWA of having employees involved in terrorist activities, including the Black Saturday massacre. However, the investigative team found no evidence to support these claims and emphasized the importance of supporting UNRWA in its mission to assist Palestinian refugees.
