In a recent update on the investigations surrounding the staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinians in the Near East (UNRWA), UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, announced that one case has been closed and three others suspended. These investigations were initiated in response to allegations from Israel, suggesting involvement of UNWRA personnel in a Hamas-led terror attack on October 7. The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is overseeing these investigations, with eight staff members as yet remaining under examination.
Dujarric’s update stated the case was closed due to insufficient evidence from Israel, while administrative actions were predetermined for the three suspended cases, citing inadequate information to proceed with OIOS investigations.
Further investigations into the remaining cases are ongoing. This follows initial allegations against 12 staff members, with an additional seven being investigated after more information was received by the UN.
Israel had orally raised these allegations in January 2024, leading to immediate termination of ten UNRWA staff. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini subsequently opened an OIOS probe and announced an independent expert review of the agency’s operations. This resulted in a significant withdrawal of support from countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the EU.
However, a majority of these countries including the EU and the United States have since resumed their funding. Still, this incident significantly impacted UNRWA, which provides essential services to approximately 87% of people in Gaza.
The independent review led by Catherine Colonna was revealed on Monday. It emphasized that the Israeli Government has not informed UNRWA of any concerns relating to its staff since 2011. The report accounted for a financial loss of around 450 million USD due to donor withdrawal but reiterated UNRWA’s pivotal role as a lifeline for the people in Gaza. The report finalizes with a list of recommendations, including additional staff screening and an updated code of ethics, which have been officially accepted by Lazzarini.
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