Issa, Gottheimer to State Department: Krahenbuhl Unfit to Lead International Red Cross

Washington – Today, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05) led a bipartisan effort calling for the State Department and USAID to oppose the nomination of Pierre Krahenbuhl as Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Issa and Gottheimer were joined by 13 House colleagues in penning a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and USAID Administrator Samantha Power requesting they use their positions to urge the ICRC to reverse this appointment, citing Mr. Krahenbuhl’s disastrous tenure as Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

An excerpt from the letter:

“Mr. Krahenbuhl’s tenure at UNRWA disqualifies him for this role, especially at a time when ICRC’s impartiality is under question for its posture toward the Israel-Hamas war. Mr. Krahenbuhl served as Commissioner General of UNRWA from March 2014 until his resignation in November 2019. UNRWA asserts that 'neutrality is essential' in executing its mandate to ‘assist and protect Palestine refugees.’ Under Mr. Krahenbuhl's leadership, however, UNRWA employees displayed a clear bias against the State of Israel as he tolerated a climate of antisemitism and incitement. 

“Mr. Krahenbuhl’s troubled tenure, however, extends far beyond antisemitism. In November 2019, he resigned as Commissioner General of UNRWA amidst allegations of 'sexual misconduct, nepotism, retaliation, discrimination, and other abuses of authority for personal gain' according to an internal UNRWA report. Although the UN ultimately cleared Mr. Krahenbuhl of fraud or misappropriation of funds, it did find evidence of 'serious managerial issues,' which prompted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to place Mr. Krahenbuhl on administrative leave.

Toby Dershowitz, Managing Director of FDD Action, offered this statement on Mr. Krahenbuhl’s appointment:

“The ICRC needs leaders with stellar records. Regrettably, Krahenbuhl’s tenure at UNRWA was filled with controversy, alleged corruption, antisemitism, and reported mismanagement of funds as well. On his watch, Hamas built terror tunnels underneath UNRWA facilities, and UNRWA used Hamas’s playbook in its curriculum. Palestinians did not flourish in ways they deserve to.

“Taxpayers have seen up close what misuse of funds can lead to. Congress is right to call out Mr. Krahenbuhl’s record and to urge that he not be permitted to take the helm of the ICRC, an important organization.”

The full letter can be found here.