No evidence presented
UN closes investigations against five UNRWA employees
April 27, 2024, 3:04 a.m
The UN Palestinian Relief Agency employs more than 30,000 people. A handful are suspected of involvement in the major Hamas attack. Now the UN is stopping investigations in some cases.
While investigating Israeli allegations of involvement of 19 employees of the UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA) in the major Hamas attack on Israel, the United Nations has closed or suspended investigations in five cases. The investigation into one case of the original twelve suspects has been discontinued, said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday. Israel did not provide any evidence to substantiate the allegations against the employee.
The investigations against three other employees were suspended because the information provided by Israel was not sufficient. Israel made the allegations against the twelve people in January, after which the employees’ contracts were terminated.
Numerous donor states are stopping support
Allegations were later made against seven other people. According to Dujarric, the investigation against one of them has also been suspended until further evidence is received. The remaining 14 employees are being investigated further. Following the allegations against UNRWA employees, an investigative commission led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna was set up. In response to the allegations, numerous donor states suspended their financial aid. Some donors have now resumed aid.
UNRWA employs more than 30,000 people. The UN relief agency, founded in 1949, has the mandate of the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to Palestinian refugees registered in its area of operation. After more than half a year of war sparked by the Islamist Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, the 2.4 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip are on the brink of famine.