The Swiss government has proposed a grant of $11 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza resulting from the war between Israel and Hamas.
The government’s proposal, announced on Wednesday after weeks of deliberation, represents half of the amount initially planned to be disbursed to UNRWA in 2024.
According to government spokesperson André Simonazzi, the Federal Council has decided to allocate funds to UNRWA twice a year, meaning there will be a second decision later this year.
In a statement, the Federal Council stated that Switzerland’s contribution of 10 million Swiss francs to UNRWA will be limited to Gaza and will cover urgent basic needs such as food, water, shelter, basic healthcare, and logistical services.
The statement further added that Switzerland “fully recognizes the difficult nature of the situation and understands the urgent need for action.”
UNRWA, which coordinates nearly all aid to Gaza, has been in crisis since January when Israel accused around 12 of its 13,000 employees in Gaza of involvement in a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
This led several donor countries, including the United States and Switzerland, to suddenly suspend funding to the agency, jeopardizing its efforts to deliver much-needed aid in Gaza, where the United Nations warned of an imminent famine.
An independent review group led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna found some “neutrality-related issues,” but stated that Israel has not yet provided evidence for its main allegations.
The Swiss government stated that it “relied on the analysis of Colonna’s report and coordinated with other donor entities” in making its decision. The government’s decision still needs to be presented to parliamentary foreign affairs committees for consultation
