UN: "Evidence Linking 9 UN Relief Workers for Palestinian Refugees to Hamas"

9 UNRWA Staff Members
Allegedly Involved in Hamas Airstrikes on Israel Last Year

The United Nations announced on the 5th (local time) that nine UN staff members working in Palestine are suspected of being involved in the October attack on Israel by the Palestinian armed faction Hamas last year.

In a press release on the same day, the UN stated, "The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) of the UN Secretariat has completed an investigation into 19 staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and among them, nine are possibly involved in Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7 last year." Philip Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, added, "The employment relationship with these nine staff members will be terminated."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Director Lazzarini explained, "UNRWA's priority is to continue life-saving and essential services for the Gaza Strip and Palestinian refugees amid the ongoing war and the risk of regional conflict escalation," and emphasized, "We are committed to ensuring that staff adhere to the UN's fundamental principles, including humanitarian neutrality, and the agency's policies regarding external and political activities."

Earlier, Israel raised suspicions that 12 UNRWA staff members were involved in Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7 last year. Subsequently, the allegations expanded, claiming that more than 450 UNRWA staff members were agents of terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip.

In response, UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres appointed an independent investigative body led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in February to investigate the allegations of UNRWA staff involvement with Hamas. Separately, the UN OIOS also conducted its own investigation into the allegations raised by Israel regarding UNRWA staff connections to Hamas.

UNRWA denied the allegations of cooperation with Hamas and stated that over 200 UNRWA staff members died during the Israel-Hamas war, and 190 of its facilities were damaged.