Due to claims that staff members were involved in the Hamas attacks on October 7, the US has decided to suspend financing for UNRWA, the UN organization for Palestinians.
According to UNRWA, it has fired multiple employees and launched an inquiry into data provided by Israel.
Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the UN, expressed his horror at the news and demanded a prompt inquiry.
In the historic attack, Hamas killed 1,300 individuals, the majority of them civilians.
250 more people were kidnapped. Over 26,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israel’s retaliation attacks on Hamas in Gaza, which were set off by the events, according to the health ministry operated by Hamas in the enclave.
The US State Department declared that it was “extremely troubled” by the claims that UN staff members were involved in the attacks and announced its decision to temporarily cease financing.
Israel allegedly gave UNRWA “information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7,” according to UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini, who made the announcement on Friday.
He said that UNRWA had cut its relations with many staff and put them under investigation.
The Israeli prime minister’s advisor revealed to the BBC that “people who are on their [UNRWA] salaries” were involved in the Hamas attacks on October 7.
Mark Regev said there was information showing teachers working in UNRWA schools had “openly celebrated” the 7 October attacks.
He also referred to an Israeli hostage who, on her release, said she had been “held in the house of someone who worked for UNRWA”.
“They have a union which is controlled by Hamas and I think it’s high time that the UN investigated these links between UNRWA and Hamas,” he added.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said he had asked Mr Lazzarini to investigate “this matter swiftly”.
He added that the probe must make sure any UNRWA employee “shown to have participated or abetted” in the 7 October attack be sacked and referred for potential criminal prosecution.
