On Monday, the United Nations disclosed that nine staff members of its relief agency in Gaza might have been involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. This shocking revelation comes as part of a broader investigation into the conduct of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees) staff.
According to Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, “For nine people, the evidence was sufficient to conclude that they may have been involved in the October 7 attacks.” This attack, launched by the Palestinian group Hamas, marked a severe escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict, resulting in nearly 1,200 fatalities and numerous abductions.
The UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) conducted an extensive investigation into allegations involving 19 UNRWA staff members. The findings were revealing:
- In one case, no evidence supported the staff member’s involvement.
- For nine others, the evidence was deemed sufficient to suggest potential involvement.
- In the remaining cases, the evidence was insufficient to corroborate the allegations.
The allegations against the UNRWA staff emerged in January when Israel accused the aid agency’s personnel of participating in the October 7 attack. This claim led to a significant freeze in funding from various donors, prompting the UN to initiate a thorough investigation.
The OIOS report has highlighted the severity of the situation, affecting the future of the implicated staff and potentially impacting the agency’s operations and funding. The investigation underscores the complexity of international aid and conflict zones, where such serious allegations can have far-reaching consequences.
The UN continues to review the situation, with further actions anticipated based on the ongoing investigation.
