The United Nations has terminated the employment of additional staff members from its agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, following allegations of their involvement in the October 7 attack on Israel orchestrated by Hamas. This decision was made after an internal investigation found sufficient evidence linking these staffers to the violent incident.
The announcement was made by the U.N. secretary-general’s office, with Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the secretary-general, confirming the dismissals without providing specific details on the roles of the fired staffers or the evidence against them. Juliette Touma, communications director for UNRWA, stated that the nine staffers recently fired included individuals from previous groups who had been put on administrative leave without pay earlier this year (POLITICO) (POLITICO).
Based on their independent investigation, the @UN revealed that at least nine of their humanitarian staff were involved in the heinous terrorism of October 7th.
We urge the global community to condemn these actions and defund @UNWRA. pic.twitter.com/qLNm4GHRcK
— Israel in New York (@IsraelinNewYork) August 5, 2024
The investigation was initiated following allegations from Israel in January, which accused 12 UNRWA employees of involvement in the attack. This attack saw Hamas militants kill around 1,200 people and abduct approximately 250 others in southern Israel. These accusations led major donor countries, including the United States, to suspend their funding for UNRWA, causing a significant financial strain on the agency. Despite some donor countries resuming funding, the U.S. has maintained its pause (POLITICO) (POLITICO).
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its call for donor countries to halt funding to UNRWA, citing concerns that funds might end up supporting terrorist activities. The UNRWA head, Philippe Lazzarini, emphasized the agency's commitment to continuing its critical services for Palestinian refugees, especially in the face of ongoing conflict and instability in the region. Lazzarini also condemned the October 7 attack and expressed the agency's dedication to holding any involved employees accountable (POLITICO) (POLITICO).
BREAKING :
The UN confirms that the events did not start on October 7th.
“October 7th did not occur in a vacuum; it was preceded by decades of violence, dispossession, unlawful occupation, and the denial of Palestinian self-determination.”pic.twitter.com/RTDXVKWxaU
— sarah (@sahouraxo) June 19, 2024
The U.N.'s internal watchdog, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, has been closely collaborating with Israeli authorities during the investigation. Although it relied on evidence provided by Israel, the watchdog noted that it could not independently verify all the details due to limited access. The findings, however, indicated enough involvement to justify the termination of the nine staff members (POLITICO) (POLITICO).
The broader context of this issue lies in the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The ongoing war has resulted in over 26,000 Palestinian deaths, with many more injured and displaced. UNRWA has been a crucial lifeline, providing aid and support to millions of Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. The financial instability caused by the funding freeze threatens to halt these essential operations (POLITICO) (POLITICO).
The situation has also intensified discussions within the United Nations about its role and effectiveness in resolving such conflicts. The agency faces significant challenges, not only in terms of financial sustainability but also in navigating the complex political landscape that includes criticism and allegations from various quarters (POLITICO).
