Nine UNWRA Staff Members May Have Been Involved in Hamas-led Attack on Israel, UN Says
In a shocking revelation, the United Nations has announced that nine staff members at the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNWRA, may have been involved in the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel. The UN deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, stated that all nine individuals would have their employment terminated as a result of the investigation.
The attack last autumn resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the capture of 251 others as hostages in Gaza. Since then, the Israeli military operation in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 38,400 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Mr. Haq did not provide specific details on the involvement of the staff members in the attack, but he emphasized that any participation in such acts is a betrayal of the work that the UN is supposed to be doing on behalf of the Palestinian people.
The report has sparked outrage from Israeli Defense Forces, with a spokesperson stating that UNWRA has hit a “new low.” Israel had initially alleged that 12 UNWRA staff members were involved in the attack, but the UN investigation only found evidence against nine individuals.
Despite Israel’s claims that over 450 UNWRA staff members were linked to terrorist groups, a UN review in April found no evidence to support these allegations. The report also revealed that some UNWRA employees reported being pressured by Israeli authorities into making false statements while in detention.
Following the allegations, most countries withdrew funding for UNWRA, but in July, the UK joined other nations in resuming funding. The US, UNWRA’s largest donor, remains the only country that has not restarted donations.
UNRWA has been providing aid for Palestinian refugees since 1949, but this recent revelation has raised concerns about the integrity of the organization and its staff members.
