Serious allegations against UN Palestinian aid agency: National councils take UNRWA director to task

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>

Swiss diplomat Philippe Lazzarini (59) is under pressure. Since 2020, he has been Director of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). This is being met with sharp accusations. According to Israeli intelligence, twelve employees were involved in the terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7.

And that should be just the tip of the iceberg. As the Wall Street Journal reported early this week, about ten percent of UNRWA employees working in the Gaza Strip had ties to Hamas or Islamic Jihad. UNRWA responded and fired several employees. Lazzarini is also facing calls to resign.

Parliamentarians invite Lazzarini

The Swiss parliament is also concerned about the accusations. The National Council’s Foreign Policy Committee (APK) summons UNRWA Director Lazzarini to its next meeting on March 25. He was invited to discuss the situation in which UNRWA currently finds itself, said Commission President Laurent Wehrli (58). The meeting will not take place in Bern as usual, but in Geneva.

The invitation had been planned for a long time, Wehrli told Blick. Lazzarini agreed a few days ago. Given the latest developments, the meeting now takes on greater importance. Several states have decided to temporarily suspend payments to UNRWA.

Switzerland is also waiting. Parliament decided last December that the money could only be paid out if the foreign policy committees of the National Council and the Council of States agreed in advance. The committees will only discuss this in the spring – after the conversation with Lazzarini. Switzerland transfers 20 million euros annually to the Palestinian aid organization, making it one of the largest donors.

Source:Blick