Germany to resume UNRWA cooperation following unfounded Israeli claims
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The German government plans to restart collaboration with the UN agency aiding Palestinians in Gaza following a report that revealed "Israel" had not substantiated accusations regarding the agency's employees.
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Palestinians walk through the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip in Gaza City, Saturday, February 10, 2024. (AP)
The German government intends to resume its partnership with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza, as reported by Reuters, citing a joint statement by the foreign and development ministries on Wednesday.
The decision stems from an inquiry conducted by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna regarding whether a notable portion of UNRWA employees have affiliations with Hamas or PIJ. The assessment of the agency's impartiality on Monday determined that "Israel" had not provided substantiation for its accusations.
The German ministries encouraged UNRWA to promptly adopt the recommendations outlined in the report, which include enhancing its internal audit capabilities and enhancing external supervision of project management.
“In support of these reforms, the German government will soon continue its cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza, as Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan, among others, have already done,” said the ministries in the statement.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein alleged on Monday that over 2,135 UNRWA employees were affiliated with Hamas or PIJ. Unsurprisingly, he criticized the Colonna review of UNRWA as insufficient and an “effort to avoid the problem.”
The United States, previously the primary donor to UNRWA, has decided not to consider resuming funding until March 2025, despite Gaza's unbearable civilian death toll and Israeli-made famine.
A little too late: Damage done by 'Israel's' baseless UNRWA claims
Unsubstantiated Israeli accusations regarding UNRWA's connections to Hamas and the PIJ (Palestinian Islamic Jihad) prompted major donors to withdraw $450 million in funding from the primary humanitarian agency operating in Gaza, exacerbating an already dire situation where many were facing mortality, a recent analysis by The Guardian's World Affairs Editor, Julian Borger highlighted on Tuesday.
Three months later, the situation deteriorated further, with the emergence of an Israeli-made famine alongside relentless Israeli bombings, healthcare system collapse, water scarcity, and increased epidemics.
Despite a thorough investigation led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, supported by three reputable research institutes, no evidence has been found to support the Israeli claim that a significant number of UNRWA employees have ties to the Palestinian Resistance movements.
A separate review is ongoing regarding specific accusations that UNRWA employees were involved in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. However, according to UN officials, this investigation remains incomplete, with "Israel" still withholding cooperation as of the last progress report.
The Colonna inquiry, which constitutes a comprehensive assessment of UNRWA's neutrality, reached out to Israeli occupation authorities in March and April, seeking names and evidence supporting Israeli claims.
"Israel's" cooperation with the inquiry could be deemed unnecessary, given that UNRWA's donors were quick to suspend funding without requiring evidence, as per Borger.
While most major donor countries have reportedly resumed funding, the UK has withheld funds, and Germany is only supporting UNRWA operations outside Gaza.
Although the Israeli allegations prompted the funding suspension, the UK and German governments claimed that they would consider the broader findings of the Colonna report on integrity and neutrality when reassessing their positions.
In Borger's view, "There was an element of miscalculation and accident in how this funding crisis unfolded."
