Nine employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) have had their contracts terminated due to potential involvement in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to a statement from the United Nations.
UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that the decision followed a thorough investigation initiated after allegations were made by Israeli authorities regarding the involvement of UNRWA staff in the unprecedented assault that resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 individuals to Gaza.
While Haq did not reveal the specific roles of the terminated employees, he expressed that any participation in the attacks represents a serious betrayal of UNRWA’s mission to serve the Palestinian people. The agency investigated a total of 19 staff members after Israel alleged that 12 were directly involved in the assault.
Additionally, Israeli officials have claimed that over 450 UNRWA employees are affiliated with terrorist organizations. However, a UN review earlier this year stated that no substantial evidence had been provided to support these allegations.
In March, UNRWA, which has a workforce of 13,000 in Gaza, indicated that some staff members reported being coerced by Israeli authorities into providing false testimonies during detainment.
The allegations against UNRWA have led to a significant reduction in funding from numerous countries. While some nations, including the UK, resumed their financial support for the agency in July, the United States remains the only major donor yet to reinstate its contributions.
