Israel disappointed by Germany’s decision to renew UNRWA funding

Read this article in:

The German government announced on Wednesday that it intends to restore its funding for the scandal-ridden UN agency, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees).

In January, Germany, the United States and several other governments suspended financial aid to UNRWA after Israel presented incriminating evidence that dozens of its employees were directly or indirectly involved in the Oct. 7 massacres and kidnappings by Hamas.

UNRWA largely depends on financial aid from Western governments and Japan. Germany is currently its second-largest donor after the United States.

Berlin justified its decision to restore its collaboration with UNRWA by referring to reforms presented by an independent panel. Critics claim the report whitewashed UNRWA’s problematic ties to terrorism and extremism.

“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,” Berlin announced, citing “UNRWA’s vital and currently irreplaceable role in providing for the people in Gaza”.

“Germany will coordinate closely with its closest international partners on the disbursement of further funds. UNRWA’s short-term financing needs in Gaza are currently covered by existing funds,” Berlin concluded.

Israel’s foreign ministry reacted by calling Berlin’s decision “regrettable and disappointing” and stressed that it had shared with Germany and other allies, “detailed information about hundreds of Hamas military operatives and many hundreds of other operatives belonging to the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad — all UNRWA employees”.

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oren Marmorstein, emphasized that the entire UNRWA organization was compromised due to its the extensive ties to terrorism and extremism.

“These are not some rotten apples — this is a rotten and poisoned tree,” Marmorstein said.

However, the independent panel's report dismissed the UNRWA scandal, claiming that Israel had not provided “supporting evidence” that tied UNRWA employees to terrorism.

The head of the panel, former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, said that UNRWA’s work was guided by “elaborate” procedures and mechanisms.

“The set of rules and the mechanisms and procedures in place [at UNRWA] are the most elaborate within the UN system, precisely because it is such a difficult issue to work in such a complex and sensitive environment,” Colonna told journalists at the UN headquarters on Monday, after the long-awaited final report.

“What needs to be improved will be improved. I’m confident that implementing these measures will help UNRWA deliver on its mandate,” she added.

In February, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant presented the names of 12 UNRWA workers who were directly involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack. He also noted that Israel provided evidence linking an additional 30 UNRWA employees to the terrorist organization.

Israeli intelligence has previously estimated that at least 12% of UNRWA’s 13,000 workers in Gaza are affiliated with Hamas and other terrorist organizations.

In late February, the mother of one hostage, Ayelet Samerano, demanded that UNRWA be closed and replaced with another organization.

"You are asking me why UNRWA needs to be replaced?” she said. “A UNRWA worker kidnapped my son!”

“A social worker for a so-called humanitarian organization kidnapped my son,” she continued. “How can someone working for an organization that claims to do good in this world do something so cruel and inhumane? How can the UN pay this man who dragged my son’s limp body on the ground, and then picked him up if he was a prize back to Gaza? How many more lives have been ruined by this person hauling my son like he is not even a human being into a UNRWA car?”

In February 2021, a detailed report revealed that UNRWA-run schools continue to disseminate antisemitic propaganda and praise terrorism against Israel, despite official pledges that such extremist activities would end.