Belgian Foreign Minister Hajjah Lahbib announced on Thursday night that she had summoned the Israeli ambassador to Belgium after raids that “destroyed” the offices of the Belgian Development Agency ENABEL in the Gaza Strip.
[Lebanon Files on Feb. 2]
War on Gaza:
Ex-UNRWA chief [Matthias] Schmale: Cooperation with Hamas is inevitable. The former [German] head of the UN refugee agency in the Gaza Strip, Schmale, has defended UNRWA's ties to the militant Islamist Hamas. He told Deutschlandfunk that without pragmatic cooperation with Hamas, humanitarian aid could not be provided in the Gaza Strip. However, this does not mean agreeing with or supporting their objectives. [Deutschlandfunk, German National Radio, Jan. 30]
The former German UNRWA coordinator, responsible for the supply of human aid to the Gaza Strip, alleged that the current debate about cancelling all UNRWA aid to the Palestinian people might be "politically motivated". During his time of four years in office, all employees of UNWRA were under strict observation to avoid any illegal activities. Yet, only 8 employees among 13.000 had to be fired because of misusing their positions for "betraying the goals of UNRWA" which makes up for 0,06 % of intolerable personnel. The reported rate of an alleged 10 % of UNRWA employees supporting Hamas seems therefore much exaggerated.
Matthias Schmale agreed to take over another task in East Africa during a time of increasing pressure from the Hamas taking him for a "pro-Israel guy". Nevertheless, he mentions that responsibility for the entrance of human aid into the Gaza Strip is not totally in the hands of Hamas. Israeli forces are responsible as well and which has led to the current situation .....
Ex-UNRWA chief in a German language interview
granted to Deutschlandfunk on January 30, 2024
Yesterday, January 29, Wall Street Journal WSJ came with allegations of 12 UNRWA employees being involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. They mention that UNRWA sources have been quoted by South Africa in their charge against Israel before the International Court of Justice.
