U.N. investigators have closed one case and suspended three more in their examination of Israeli accusations that 12 staff members from the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA were involved in Hamas attacks on October 7. In the closed case, no evidence was provided by Israel to support the allegations, and corrective administrative action is being considered for the staff member. The investigation into the remaining eight cases is ongoing, while three cases were suspended due to insufficient information from Israel. An additional seven cases were brought to the attention of the United Nations in March and April, with six investigations still continuing.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has emphasized the importance of UNRWA, stating that it is the backbone of all humanitarian response in Gaza. The agency provides education, health, and aid to millions of Palestinians in various regions. The accusations against UNRWA staff members were made public in January, leading to the firing of 10 employees, while two others were reported to be deceased. The United Nations appointed former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna to lead a review of UNRWA’s ability to ensure neutrality and respond to allegations of breaches. Colonna’s report noted that UNRWA has a more developed approach to neutrality compared to other aid groups, but neutrality-related issues still persist.
Israel’s allegations against the UNRWA staff members resulted in 16 states pausing or suspending funding to the agency, totaling $450 million. However, 10 countries have resumed funding, while the United States, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, and Lithuania have not. The United States, as UNRWA’s biggest donor, had paused funding, and the U.S. Congress suspended contributions until at least March 2025. UNRWA stated that it currently has enough funding to sustain operations until June, despite the funding challenges it faces.
Israel claims that about 1,200 people were killed and over 250 taken hostage in the Hamas attacks on October 7. Gaza health authorities report that Israel has killed 34,000 people in its offensive in Gaza since then. The investigations by the Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) are ongoing to determine the extent of UNRWA staff members’ involvement in the attacks. The United Nations is committed to addressing any new information related to the infiltration of Hamas among UNRWA workers and taking appropriate administrative action as needed.
Overall, the situation surrounding the accusations against UNRWA staff members highlights the challenges faced by the agency in ensuring neutrality and responding to allegations of misconduct. The international community’s response in terms of funding suspension and support reflects the complexities of the issue. It remains to be seen how the investigations will unfold and what actions will be taken by the United Nations to address the situation. The impact of the funding challenges on UNRWA’s operations and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza further underscores the importance of resolving the issue in a transparent and effective manner.
