Germany announced on Wednesday its intention to rejoin other countries in resuming collaboration with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza. This decision was made following the publication of an independent report assessing the organization’s neutrality. The German Foreign and Development Ministries jointly stated that the report’s recommendations “must now be swiftly implemented.” Among the recommendations were increased oversight of UNRWA’s leadership and increased international participation in supporting the organization as it addresses concerns about neutrality. The German government will shortly resume cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza, as Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan have already done, according to the German statement. It stated that Germany would work closely with its “closest international partners” to decide on future funding allocations.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it is deploying two reserve brigades to the Gaza Strip for missions. The announcement came as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Rafah, the southern Gaza city that Israel claims is Hamas’ last key stronghold. More than half of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are currently seeking refuge in the city, and an offensive there has sparked international concern about the potential harm to civilians. Israel has been gradually reducing its troop presence in the region, but officials have stated that this is part of a regrouping effort in preparation for an advance into Rafah. Israel believes an invasion is necessary to destroy Hamas’ military and governing capabilities in order to achieve its war goals.
The Israeli military stated in a statement on Wednesday that the brigades would perform “defensive and tactical missions” in Gaza, but did not elaborate. It stated that the soldiers had studied the main lessons learned from the fighting in Gaza prior to their deployment. The brigades had previously been stationed along Israel’s northern border, where the militant organization Hezbollah and Israeli forces had engaged in exchanges of fire throughout the conflict in Gaza, according to the military.
The region remains in a state of instability, with Israel and the United States on one side and Iran and allied militant organizations on the other, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict. The suspension of the 2007 Saudi peace initiative, which sought to establish a Palestinian state in exchange for normalized relations between Arab nations and Israel, has exacerbated regional tensions and the conflict’s intractability.
