The United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) announced on Friday that it had opened an investigation into and severed ties with several staff members suspected of involvement in the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants.
“Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information regarding the alleged involvement of several UNRWA personnel in the horrific attack on Israel on October 7,” said UNRWA Director-General Philippe Lazzarini.
“In order to protect the agency’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these personnel and launch an investigation to uncover the truth without delay.”
Lazzarini declined to say how many employees were involved in the attack or what their involvement was. However, he said “UNRWA personnel involved in acts of terrorism” would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.
A UNRWA spokesperson did not provide further details about the situation.
Canada’s International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen said the federal government had suspended additional funding to UNRWA while the allegations were investigated.
Mr. Hussen said Friday that he spoke directly with Mr. Lazzarini to express Canada’s alarm over the allegations.
“Canada takes these reports extremely seriously and is working closely with UNRWA and other donors on this issue,” he said in a statement.
Canada unequivocally condemns the October 7 attack on Israel. I am deeply concerned by the allegations regarding some of her UNRWA staff. I have directed International Affairs Canada to suspend all additional funding to UNRWA pending the outcome of the investigation. Please read my statement: pic.twitter.com/YfEbwhKvzx
The US State Department said it was deeply troubled by the allegations regarding 12 UNRWA employees. He said he would not provide additional funding to the agency until the allegations were resolved.
“While we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them, the State Department has temporarily suspended additional funding to UNRWA,” spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said: “We will assess further actions and draw lessons based on the results of a full and comprehensive investigation.”
Israeli government spokesman Eilon Levy said the decision comes amid worldwide attention to the International Court of Justice’s order for Israel to stop committing genocide against Palestinians and step up support for civilians in the Gaza Strip. , condemned UNRWA for announcing this news.
“On any other day, this would have been a huge headline: Israel provides evidence of UN staff collusion with Hamas,” Levy wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Israeli tanks attacked a vocational training center housing displaced Palestinians in Khan Yunis on Wednesday, United Nations officials said, in what was reported to be a fatal attack, drawing condemnation from Washington. Israel denies responsibility for its forces and says it is considering the possibility that the attack was the result of Hamas artillery fire.
UN Secretary-General: ‘I feel scared’
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has been briefed on the allegations, his spokesman said.
“The Secretary-General is appalled by this news,” said Stephane Dujarric.
Mr Dujarric said the UN Secretary-General had ordered Mr Lazzarini to launch an investigation to ensure the immediate dismissal and possible criminal prosecution of UNRWA employees found to have participated in or abetted the October 7 attack. He said that he had asked him to do so.
“An urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA will be carried out,” Dujarric said.
UNRWA, whose biggest donors in 2022 include the United States, Germany and the European Union, has repeatedly said its ability to provide humanitarian aid to people in the Gaza Strip is at risk of collapse.
the current19:20Starvation risk rises in Gaza
Issam Hamad says it feels like the “dark ages” on Gaza’s southern border. There he and his family are stranded with extremely limited food and water. Matt Galloway tells Hamad what he is doing to survive. And he talks with Arif Hussein, the World Food Program’s chief economist, about getting humanitarian aid where it’s needed.
Agency founded in 1949
UNRWA, officially known as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, was established in 1949 after the First Arab-Israeli War. It provides schooling, primary health care, humanitarian assistance and other services to Palestinians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
Israeli authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have accused the agency of fomenting anti-Israel incitement, an allegation the authorities deny.
UNRWA has provided aid and used its facilities to protect people fleeing shelling and ground attacks launched by Israel in Gaza after the October 7 attacks. Israel says about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 were taken hostage.
The Israeli attack has devastated much of the densely populated Gaza Strip and killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, according to regional health officials.
