The UN announced on Friday that it had taken action on five out of 19 cases involving employees of its agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, who were accused by Israel of being involved in Hamas attacks on October 7. These accusations have caused turmoil within UNRWA and a decrease in funding. This comes at a time when the Gaza Strip is facing a humanitarian crisis, including the threat of a widespread famine.
The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) conducted investigations into the 19 UNRWA personnel accused, with 12 cases identified by Israel in January, leading to termination of contracts, and seven additional cases flagged later on. Of the original 12 cases, one was closed due to lack of evidence from Israel, while three were suspended due to insufficient information for an investigation. Among the seven new cases, one was also suspended until more evidence is provided.
Investigators have traveled to Israel for discussions with authorities and are planning another visit in May. These discussions have been described as constructive and helpful in advancing the investigations. Meanwhile, an independent assessment mission found that while UNRWA lacks political neutrality, Israel has not provided proof of alleged ties between some employees and terrorist organizations.
The report highlighted the importance of UNRWA in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied West Bank. Israeli accusations led to a pause in funding from donor countries, but many countries have since resumed their contributions, with the notable exception of the United States. UNRWA employs more than 30,000 people and serves 5.9 million Palestinians in the region.