UNRWA Commissioner-Basic Philippe Lazzarini attends a briefing on the humanitarian state of affairs within the occupied Palestinian territory on the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, June 25, 2024. | Photograph credit score: Reuters
The United Nations mentioned on August 5 that it has dismissed extra workers members from its company for Palestinian refugees after an inner investigation discovered they could have been concerned within the October 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel.
The UN Secretary-Basic’s workplace introduced the transfer in a short assertion to reporters. Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the Secretary-Basic, didn’t elaborate on the doable function of UNRWA workers within the assault or the proof that motivated his determination.
UNRWA had already fired 12 workers members and put seven of them on unpaid administrative depart over the allegations. The group of 9 workers members the U.N. introduced it had fired on Monday contains some from every group, mentioned Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s communications director.
The UN didn’t make clear what number of in whole have been dismissed from the company.
The UN’s inner watchdog has been investigating the company since Israel accused 12 UNRWA workers in January of involvement within the Oct. 7 assault on Israel by which militants killed 1,200 folks and kidnapped 250 others.
Israel’s accusations initially led main donor international locations to droop funding to UNRWA, resulting in a liquidity disaster of some $450 million. Since then, all donor international locations besides america have determined to renew funding.
Oren Marmorstein, a spokesman for Israel’s International Ministry, wrote on X after the announcement of the layoffs that Israel was once more calling on donor international locations to droop funding “because the funds might go to terrorist components.”
“UNRWA is a part of the issue and never a part of the answer, and anybody who seeks the most effective pursuits of Israel, the Gaza Strip and the area ought to act to exchange UNRWA’s actions with different companies,” he wrote.
The UN watchdog tasked with investigating UNRWA, known as the Workplace of Inner Oversight Providers, mentioned it relied on proof supplied by Israel in conversations with Israeli authorities. It mentioned it couldn’t independently corroborate that proof as a result of it didn’t have direct entry to it. Investigators additionally reviewed inner UNRWA info, together with personnel data, emails and different communications information.
He mentioned he discovered ample proof pointing to the doable involvement of 9 workers within the Oct. 7 assault.
An Israeli official with information of the discussions, who requested anonymity as a result of he was not approved to transient the media, mentioned Israeli authorities spent hours with every accused UNRWA workers member as they briefed UN investigators on their findings.
“I’ve determined that the remaining 9 workers members can’t work for UNRWA,” UNRWA director Philippe Lazzarini mentioned in a press release.
“The company’s precedence is to proceed offering very important and significant providers to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and throughout the area, particularly within the face of ongoing conflict, instability and the danger of regional escalation,” mentioned Mr. Lazzarini, who additionally mentioned he condemned the October 7 assault.
In 9 different circumstances, the proof was inadequate and in a single case there was no proof to recommend involvement.
UNRWA has been the primary company delivering assist to Palestinians in Gaza in the course of the 10-month-old conflict, which Gaza well being officers say has killed greater than 39,600 folks and triggered a large humanitarian disaster.
Israel has stepped up its requires the company to be closed because the conflict started. It has lengthy accused UNRWA of collaborating with Hamas and turning a blind eye to the militant group’s actions. All through the conflict it has printed pictures of tunnels constructed subsequent to UNRWA amenities and has alleged that many extra of the company’s workers than these fired are members of militant teams.
Through the conflict, far-right protesters demonstrating in opposition to the company have set fireplace to elements of its amenities in Jerusalem.
UNRWA denies collaborating with Hamas. The company says greater than 200 company workers have been killed and 190 company amenities broken in the course of the conflict, together with UN-run faculties which have been become shelters for displaced Palestinians.
