The Commissioner General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, has denounced recent attacks on the agency’s reputation, asserting that they are intended to deprive Palestinians of their refugee status. These remarks follow an independent report by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, which found no evidence to support Israel’s allegations that UNRWA staff had ties to terrorist groups. The report has prompted several countries that had suspended funding to reconsider their decision.
Meanwhile, Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, has likened the devastation in Gaza to the destruction witnessed in German cities during World War II. Borrell cited estimates from the World Bank and the United Nations that put the cost of rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure at a staggering $90 billion (€84 billion). He emphasized that over 60% of the physical infrastructure has been damaged, with 35% completely destroyed.
Despite appeals from the EU for Israel to comply with international law and safeguard civilians, pro-Palestine protests have erupted in Turkey. The Gaza Solidarity Platform staged a demonstration outside the German consulate in Istanbul, condemning Berlin’s support for Israel in the Gaza conflict. According to Zehra Turkmen, a protestor, Germany is the second-largest supplier of weapons to Israel after the United States.
According to the Berlin-based investigative group Forensis, Germany approved nearly €3.3 billion in arms export licenses to Israel between 2003 and 2023. This military support has drawn increasing criticism, with several legal cases filed against the government demanding its cessation.
