UN Suspends UNRWA Aid Over Accusations Against Employees
In a significant revelation, The New York Times reported on a dossier provided to the United States government by Israel, outlining accusations against twelve employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The dossier alleges that these employees played a role in the Hamas attacks against Israel on October 7 or in the aftermath.
The accusations include kidnapping, ammunition distribution, and participation in a massacre at a kibbutz where 97 people died. UNRWA, a vital agency that provides education, shelters, and food to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, fired several employees after being briefed on the allegations.
Eight countries, including the United States, suspended some aid payments to UNRWA following these accusations. The UNRWA workers are accused of helping stage the attack that triggered the war in Gaza, resulting in over 26,000 deaths and nearly two million displacements.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed horror at the accusations, revealing that nine of the accused employees had been fired. However, he urged nations that suspended aid payments to reconsider, considering UNRWA’s crucial role as one of the largest employers in Gaza.
Israel’s accusations detailed in the dossier include the movements and activities of the UNRWA employees, with claims of their involvement in the Hamas attack based on phone tracking and intercepted communications. UNRWA acknowledged two of the accused employees were dead but stated it could not provide more information during the ongoing investigation by the U.N.’s Office of Internal Oversight Services.
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The accused individuals are described as members of Hamas, with some serving as teachers at UNRWA schools. The most detailed accusations involve a school counselor and a social worker accused of abduction and coordinating with Hamas.
While the United States has yet to independently verify Israel’s claims, it deemed them credible enough to warrant aid suspension. The potential impact on UNRWA’s funding is considered severe, especially during a critical time of crisis for Gaza, with warnings of famine and a collapsing health system.
The allegations against UNRWA employees come amid longstanding tensions with the agency, which has been criticized by some, including many Israelis, as an obstacle to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UNRWA’s future and role have been contentious issues, with critics arguing that it hinders the integration of Palestinian refugees and maintains unrealistic aspirations of returning to Israel.
As the situation unfolds, the threat to UNRWA’s funding raises concerns about the agency’s ability to provide essential services and aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza, potentially exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
