TransparencyOversight & ethics enforcement

Germany suspended UNRWA funding over Israeli staff allegations in January 2024, then said in April 2024 it would resume cooperation after a UN-commissioned review

Confidence: Confirmed · 3 sourcesGermany · Oct 12, 2026

Subject of this story

German Federal Foreign Office (Auswartiges Amt), jointly with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Also named

Oversight

Catherine Colonna, Former French Foreign Minister; head of the UN independent review of UNRWA neutrality

Affected

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

What happened

In late January 2024 Germany joined about 16 donor countries in suspending roughly $450 million in payments to UNRWA after Israel alleged that UNRWA staff, including 12 named individuals, took part in the October 7, 2023 attack. On April 22, 2024 a UN-commissioned review led by Catherine Colonna found UNRWA has neutrality mechanisms but with gaps, and reported that Israel had not provided supporting evidence for its broader claims about UNRWA staff. On April 24, 2024 Germany's Federal Foreign Office and development ministry (BMZ) said they would shortly resume cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza, calling on the agency to implement the review's recommendations, including stronger internal oversight, better external monitoring of project management and continued sharing of staff lists with Israeli security authorities. Israel's Foreign Ministry called the decision regrettable.

Sources (3)

German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) / Federal Foreign OfficeJoint statement, 24 April 2024: 'the German Government will shortly resume its cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza' -- 'The recommendations in the Colonna report must now be implemented without delay.'

SWI swissinfo.chGerman foreign and development ministries said they would resume cooperation conditional on UNRWA implementing the Colonna review's recommendations, including strengthened internal audit and external oversight.

UPISixteen countries collectively suspended $450 million in payments to UNRWA; the independent report found that 'Israel never provided information about its charges.'

Response

German Federal Foreign Office (Auswartiges Amt), jointly with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

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