Investigation into UNRWA and Hamas: several cases closed or suspended due to lack of Israeli evidence

The UN announced Friday that it had closed or suspended five of 19 cases involving Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) workers accused by Israel of involvement in the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.

The allegations have plunged UNRWA into chaos and led to cuts in its funding at a time when the Gaza Strip, besieged and bombarded by Israel, faces a humanitarian catastrophe, including the risk of large-scale famine.

The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) “investigated the activities of 19 UNRWA employees,” the first 12 indicted by Israel in January and whose contracts were “terminated,” and seven others identified as follows, the spokesperson’s office said. for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Of the first 12, “one case was closed because Israel did not provide any evidence to support the charges brought against the staff member,” and three others were “suspended because the information provided by Israel was “insufficient to allow OIOS to conduct an investigation.” investigation,” he said in a press release. As for the seven new cases, one of them has also been “suspended pending further evidence,” according to the spokesman’s office. That leaves a total of 14 employees still under investigation. consequence.

“Constructive” discussions

Investigators have traveled to Israel to talk with authorities, and another visit is planned for May, the same source added. These discussions are “constructive” and have “helped advance the investigation.”

These statements came just days after the release of the report of an independent mission to assess the “neutrality” of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip.

The agency lacks political “neutrality” but Israel has yet to provide “evidence” of some of its members’ alleged links to “terrorist organizations”, a panel of experts chaired by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has concluded.

The report also highlights that “UNRWA continues to play a critical role in providing life-saving humanitarian assistance” to Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the occupied West Bank.

Israel’s accusations have caused several donor countries to suspend funding to UNRWA. Since then, many have embraced the idea, with the exception of the United States, Israel’s first ally. UNRWA employs more than 30,000 staff serving 5.9 million Palestinians in the region.