PublishedApril 29, 2024, 6:01 p.m.
Conflict in the Middle East: Amnesty: “But where has humanitarian Switzerland gone?”
The NGO has filed a petition in Bern to ask that Switzerland release aid for the Palestinians.
- by
- Eric Felley
The submission of petitions this Monday, April 29 in Bern.
Amnesty
With an action entitled “Where has humanitarian Switzerland gone?”, Amnesty International Switzerland and around fifteen peace organizations submitted two petitions with more than 45,000 signatures to the Federal Council and Parliament this Monday. One demands that Switzerland support an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the other that it release the 20 million francs that it has promised for 2024 to the UN refugee aid organization Palestinians, UNWRA.
“We welcome the fact that, as a member of the UN Security Council, Switzerland voted in favor of the resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and humanitarian aid for Gaza,” explained Patrick Walder of Amnesty Switzerland. But “it is now urgent that Switzerland actively commits to the implementation of this legally binding resolution. »
Rehabilitation of UNWRA
Concerning Switzerland’s contribution to UNRWA, still pending a decision by the Federal Council, Amnesty notes that the Israeli government has so far provided no proof of the serious accusations made against certain UNRWA collaborators, who allegedly participated in the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023: “The independent investigation report, supervised by former French Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, considers that the UNWRA is in compliance with the principles of neutrality dictated by the IHL”.
It is about the image of Switzerland
“Our country’s hesitation to finance UN aid while millions of Palestinians are suffering from hunger is difficult to understand and will tarnish the image of humanitarian Switzerland,” adds Patrick Walder. “We call on the Federal Council and Parliament to clearly side with international humanitarian law and to come out in favor of funding UNRWA. We appeal to their humanity in the face of the catastrophe affecting the civilian population. The alleged actions of a few UNRWA employees must not be used as a pretext to stop aid, which saves the lives of millions of people. »
