UNRWA Clears Employees Amid Hamas Attack Controversy

UNRWA Employees Cleared Amid Controversy Over Hamas Attack Accusations

On Monday, investigators from the United Nations announced that they have cleared ten out of nineteen employees of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA. These employees had been accused by Israel of involvement in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. The U.N. confirmed the findings in a statement released on the same day.

The investigation revealed that, in the cases of the remaining nine employees, there was evidence suggesting they “may have been involved” in the attack that ignited the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. As a consequence, these nine individuals have been terminated from their positions “in the interests of the agency,” according to the U.N.

This investigation’s outcome appears to bring to a close—at least for the time being—a significant controversy that first emerged when Israel made serious accusations against UNRWA back in January. The claims prompted numerous donor nations to suspend hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for the agency, which posed a serious risk to its humanitarian efforts in the already beleaguered Gaza region.

UNRWA employs around 13,000 staff members in Gaza and plays a crucial role in providing essential services such as shelter, food, and medical assistance to the local population during a prolonged conflict that has displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents. According to health authorities in Gaza, tens of thousands of people have tragically lost their lives due to the ongoing violence.

In recent months, many donor countries have resumed their financial support for UNRWA, recognizing its vital function in delivering aid to the desperate population of Gaza. This shift in funding policy has also been influenced by the findings of a separate U.N. investigation that assessed UNRWA’s compliance with U.N. neutrality standards, which was published in April. However, one of the agency’s largest contributors, the United States, has yet to restore its funding, as U.S. lawmakers enacted a one-year ban on donations back in March.

In light of the investigation’s results, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, expressed his acknowledgment of the findings. He stated that the nine employees identified as potentially involved in the attack “cannot work for UNRWA,” emphasizing the agency’s commitment to uphold its principles and maintain trust within the communities it serves.