Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has unanimously adopted a resolution at its federal party congress in Stuttgart demanding an end to German and European Union funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
The move, passed over the weekend of February 21-22, reflects deepening unease about the agency’s alleged entanglement with terrorist organisations and its role in delivering aid to Gaza.
The resolution explicitly states: “Germany and the European Union shall discontinue support for UNRWA,” citing investigations that have “confirmed close entanglement between UNRWA and terrorist organisations”.
It argues that the agency’s mandate is structurally flawed and that its ties to terror groups disqualify it from receiving western funding.
Instead, the CDU proposes redirecting humanitarian aid and refugee assistance for Palestinians through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), other UN bodies and government or private programmes.
The decision comes in the context of postwar reconstruction efforts following the Gaza ceasefire and amid longstanding criticisms of UNRWA, including accusations of staff involvement in militant activities, incitement in educational materials and failure to prevent aid diversion.
Proponents of the resolution, including figures within the CDU, have described UNRWA as “not reformable” and emphasised the need to ensure aid reaches those in need without benefiting terror networks.
Italy has said it will no longer work with UNRWA, the United Nations Relief Agency for Palestinian Refugees, regarding aid in the Gaza Strip. https://t.co/k4uS2YT8Xt
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) February 7, 2025
The party, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also backed stricter conditions on funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA). It called for an immediate freeze on payments until the PA ends “pay-to-slay” stipends to families of terrorists and halts financing of school textbooks containing anti-Semitic or anti-Israeli content.
Once resumed, such funding would face automatic suspension for any violations.
The resolution was adopted unanimously following a short debate.
It urges the federal government and the European Commission to align future assistance with democratic, constitutional and non-violent structures in the Palestinian territories, while promoting peaceful coexistence with Israel.
NGO Monitor Vice President Olga Deutsch told Brussels Signal today: “The CDU’s resolution is an important declaration from Germany’s largest and governing party that UNRWA’s terror ties, Hamas’ and other armed groups’ aid diversion, Palestinian textbooks’ incitement against Jews and Israel and NGOs’ anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism are unacceptable.
“The resolution not only makes these positions clear, but – for the first time – introduces direct and predefined sanctions for violations, a clear acknowledgement that it is not statements but detailed frameworks for execution that truly bring about change.”
The CDU’s position marks a significant policy shift for Germany, historically one of UNRWA’s largest donors.
The agency has played a central role in providing education, health and relief services to Palestinian refugees, particularly in Gaza, but has faced repeated scrutiny over alleged politicisation and security concerns.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar welcomed the move as an “act of moral clarity”, while critics warn that abruptly halting UNRWA funding could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the agency remains a key provider despite ongoing challenges.
The German Government has yet to indicate whether it will adopt the CDU’s recommendations, although the party’s dominant position in the ruling coalition lends weight to the proposal.
