Conflicts
FDP foreign politician Link: UNRWA should be divided
“UNRWA is threatening to become a black hole. Its structure is error-prone and outdated,” says FDP parliamentary group deputy Michael Link. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
At least 13 UNRWA employees are believed to have been involved in the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7. FDP parliamentary group vice-president Link is now in favor of a realignment of the UN structures.
FDP parliamentary group vice-president Michael Link has spoken out in view of the alleged involvement of employees of the UN Palestinian Relief Agency In the October 7 attacks, UNRWA called for a fundamental reorganization of the UN structures in the Middle East.
“UNRWA is threatening to become a black hole. Its structure is error-prone and outdated,” Link, who is also the German government’s transatlantic coordinator, told the German Press Agency in Berlin. The UNRWA tasks should be divided between the UN development program UNDP, the World Food Program WFP and the refugee agency UNHCR.
“The suspension of payments to UNRWA in Gaza was necessary given the increasing incidents surrounding UNRWA and its employees,” Link said. A resumption of payments to Gaza “may only take place in close coordination with the USA and Israel,” he added. “Any misuse for terrorist purposes must be ruled out.”
Payments to UNRWA temporarily suspended
Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy said the day before that at least 13 employees of the organization were involved in the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7th. However, the information is not necessarily complete. Ten of the 13 accused are members of Hamas, two of Islamic Jihad, and one does not belong to any terrorist organization. Six of those allegedly involved in the massacre were also in Israeli territory on October 7th.
Several countries have temporarily suspended payments to UNRWA because of the allegations, including Germany. The aid organization separated from the employees and wants to investigate the allegations. The United Nations fears that UNRWA’s current funding will not be enough to support the more than two million civilians in the Gaza Strip in February.