The United Nations has dismissed nine employees from its agency for Palestinian refugees after an internal investigation linked them to the Oct. 7 attack against Israel. This inquiry was launched following allegations by Israel that staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were involved in the attack, which precipitated the current Israel-Hamas conflict.
The U.N.’s scrutiny of 19 workers led to findings of probable involvement by nine, resulting in their termination. Initial allegations had led many donor nations to suspend funding, severely impacting UNRWA’s operations.
Despite reinstatement of funding by most countries, the U.S. remains a holdout. The U.N.’s Office of Internal Oversight Services utilized evidence from Israeli authorities and internal UNRWA data in its investigation but noted challenges in independent verification.
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UNRWA’s head, Philippe Lazzarini, affirmed the agency’s ongoing commitment to aid Palestinian refugees amid the escalating conflict. Calls for the agency’s reevaluation persist as the war has intensified scrutiny of UNRWA’s role and its staff’s conduct.
“The agency’s priority is to continue lifesaving and critical services for Palestine refugees in Gaza and across the region, especially in the face of the ongoing war, the instability and risk of regional escalation,” Lazzarini said, who also said he condemned the Oct. 7 attack.
UNRWA has firmly denied any collaboration with Hamas. The agency reports significant losses during the conflict, stating that over 200 of its staff members have been killed and 190 of its facilities damaged. These facilities include U.N.-run schools now serving as shelters for displaced Palestinians.
