Switzerland blocks move to halt Palestine funding
SWITZERLAND’S upper house blocked a campaign to halt funding of the UN Palestinian refugee agency after uproar from rights groups
Earlier this week the lower house of the Swiss Federal Assembly had passed the measure, which would have blocked an annual infusion of 20 million francs (£18 million) for the agency.
Israeli authorities have accused Hama of using civilians as cover and raised concerns that aid deliveries could allow the terrorist group to bring in supplies. In particular the Israeli government has accused the UN of focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, rather than condemning Hamas.
An Israeli journalist posted on social media earlier this month that a released hostage held by Hamas in Gaza recounted being held in the home of an UNRWA teacher. The UN agency asked the journalist for proof, which was not provided, and requested the online post be deleted “in the absence of credible information to support this claim.”
UNRWA said it takes all such allegations very seriously and was “determined to find out whether the information in question is genuine or false.” “Defamation attacks and the spread of misinformation about UNRWA -from any side- directly endanger the lifesaving operations of the Agency and its staff operating on the ground. These harmful and presumably gratuitous acts must stop, immediately.”
UNRWA was formed in 1949 to provide aid in the aftermath of the Arab-Irsraeli war the year prior, and provides services including education, healthcare and humanitarian aid.
In 2019, the organization was implicated in a corruption scandal after a UN investigation unearthed findings of corruption and nepotism among the UN leadership. It was claimed that THEN-UNRWA commissioner general
Pierre Krähenbühl, of Switzerland, appointed Maria Mohammedi, a woman he was allegedly having an affair with, to a senior position in the organization.
The pair were reportedly leading a luxurious lifestyle off of the proceeds of the organisation.
Mr Krähenbühl resigned as commissioner general after the investigation found “management issues” relating to his tenure. He denied the allegations, claiming the investigation was a political campaign to undermine the agency. “I have rejected these allegations from the start and will continue to do so,” he told Swiss broadcaster RTS at the time. “There is no corruption, fraud or mismanagement of aid.” He also denied what he called “the unfounded allegation that I entertained a romantic relationship with a staff member”.
Ms Mohammedi was quoted by Al Jazeera at the time rejecting accusations about her conduct as “ill-intentioned” and “false”.