Germany has announced that it will resume cooperation with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza following the organization's acceptance of recommendations from an independent review of its neutrality. The review, led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, focused on assessing UNRWA's commitment to neutrality.
The German foreign office expressed satisfaction with UNRWA's commitment to implementing the review's recommendations swiftly and comprehensively. This decision paves the way for Germany to re-engage with UNRWA in Gaza, aligning with other countries like Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan that have already resumed cooperation.
The review was initiated in response to allegations made by Israel, claiming that a small number of UNRWA staff in Gaza were involved in an attack linked to Hamas. While the review did not investigate these specific allegations, its broader mandate was to evaluate UNRWA's efforts to maintain neutrality.
UNRWA took action by terminating several employees implicated in the incident and launching an internal investigation to ensure accountability. The organization reiterated its commitment to upholding neutrality and pledged to address any breaches promptly.
Following the allegations, the United States and several other countries withdrew funding for UNRWA. However, with UNRWA's proactive response and commitment to reforms, many nations, including Germany, have decided to reinstate financial support to the agency.
