The United States suspended funding to the UN agency after Israel said some of its employees were believed to have been involved in the attacks.
The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said it had opened an investigation into some employees Israel said were involved in the October 7 attacks, and had severed ties with those staff members.
“Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information on the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks against Israel on October 7,” said Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner general of the National Relief and Emergency Agency. United Nations work for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). ), said Friday.
“In order to protect the agency’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance, I have made the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation to establish the truth without delay.
Lazzarini did not reveal the number of employees believed to be involved in the attacks, or the nature of their alleged involvement. He said, however, that “any UNRWA employee involved in acts of terrorism” would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was “horrified by this news”, according to his spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. He added that the UN chief had asked Lazzarini to lead an investigation to ensure that any UNRWA employee found guilty of encouraging the October 7 attacks would be fired and referred for possible criminal prosecution.
The US State Department said it was troubled by the allegations, which it said concerned 12 UNRWA employees. He said he would not provide any additional funding to the agency until the allegations are addressed.
“The State Department has temporarily suspended additional funding to UNRWA while we review these allegations and the actions the United Nations is taking to respond to them,” spokesman Matthew Miller said.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement that the 27-member bloc would “assess what steps to take and draw lessons based on the results of a full and thorough investigation.”
UNRWA, whose largest donors in 2022 were the United States, Germany and the EU, has repeatedly said its ability to provide humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza is on the verge of collapse. collapse.
Established in 1949 following the First Arab-Israeli War, the agency provides services including education, primary health care and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and the Lebanon.
Since the start of the war on Gaza, Israeli authorities, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have accused it of fueling incitement to hatred against Israel – allegations they deny.
UNRWA says it has provided aid to desperate people in Gaza and used its facilities to shelter those fleeing Israeli attacks.
The agency’s shelters were also repeatedly targeted by Israeli missiles during the war, despite calls for safe passages to deliver humanitarian aid and assistance.
“The vast majority of our requests for safe passage to the north have been refused”@TomWhiteGaza tell @AJanglais of the direct attack against @UNRWA #KhanYounis southern training center #Gaza yesterday + warns the people of the north📍#Gaza are starving and desperate to receive humanitarian aid. pic.twitter.com/iGoMcUKEQ2
– UNRWA (@UNRWA) January 25, 2024