Germany will resume cooperation with UNRWA following an independent review

Germany will resume cooperation with UNRWA following an independent review

Germany will resume cooperation with the UN aid agency for Palestine in Gaza (UNRWA) after the organization accepted the recommendation of an independent review of its neutrality.

Germany’s foreign office said it was pleased that UNRWA said it would comply with the recommendations of a review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and implement them “quickly and fully.”

“To support these reforms, the German government will soon continue its cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza, as has been done by Australia, Canada, Sweden and Japan, among others,” the foreign official said.
Some context: The review was launched after Israel claimed that a dozen of Gaza’s 13,000 UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack.

It is not tasked with addressing the allegations but has a broader mandate to “assess whether UNRWA is doing everything in its power to ensure neutrality.” Israel’s claims are still under investigation by the UN.

UNRWA fired several workers after the allegations and launched an investigation, promising that anyone involved in the October 7 attack would be held accountable.

The allegations led the US and at least 13 of its allies to withdraw funding for the UN agency, which provides aid and services to Palestinian refugees. Some countries have restarted funding.