Germany joined a growing list of countries suspending funding for the United Nations relief agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, after Israel claimed that 12 staff members were involved in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants.
The move follows other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.
“Nine countries have temporarily suspended their funding of UNRWA to date,” the organization’s head, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a statement.
“These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work across the region, particularly in the Gaza Strip.”
Lazzarini said two million people in Gaza depend on UNRWA's assistance and that operation has now “collapsed.”
The German Foreign Ministry said it would suspend funding “in agreement with other countries” until UNRWA’s internal investigation was completed.
“We expect Lazzarini to make it clear to UNRWA staff that all forms of hatred and violence are completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the ministry said on social media.
Germany, the United States and Israel are among several countries that classify Hamas as a terrorist organization.
zc/sms (AP, AFP, Portal, DPA)