UN fires staff allegedly concerned in Hamas’s October 7 assaults
- UNRWA has launched a probe into 12 staff who allegedly helped Hamas
- The 12 staff have been fired for allegedly serving to with the Oct. 7 assault
- The US mentioned it was quickly pausing extra funding to UNRWA
The UN’s company for Palestinian refugees has launched a probe into 12 staff suspected of being concerned within the Hamas October 7 terror assaults.
Announcing it had opened the investigation, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees within the Near East (UNRWA) mentioned on Friday that’s had additionally severed ties with the suspected workers members.
While Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, didn’t specify what number of staff have been implicated within the scandal, the US State Department mentioned that 12 staff have been concerned.
‘The Israeli authorities have supplied UNRWA with details about the alleged involvement of a number of UNRWA staff within the horrific assaults on Israel on October 7,’ mentioned Lazzarini.
‘To shield the company’s potential to ship humanitarian help, I’ve taken the choice to instantly terminate the contracts of those workers members and launch an investigation so as to set up the reality immediately,’ he added.
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, (pictured) didn’t specify what number of staff have been implicated within the scandal
The October 7 assault, dedicated by Hamas terrorists, left 1,200 Israelis useless
‘Any UNRWA worker who was concerned in acts of terror might be held accountable, together with by legal prosecution.
‘UNRWA reiterates its condemnation within the strongest doable phrases of the abhorrent assaults of seven October and requires the instant and unconditional launch of all Israeli hostages and their secure return to their households.
‘These surprising allegations come as greater than 2 million individuals in Gaza rely upon lifesaving help that the Agency has been offering for the reason that battle started.
‘Anyone who betrays the basic values of the United Nations additionally betrays these whom we serve in Gaza, throughout the area and elsewhere around the globe’.
Lazzarini didn’t disclose the variety of staff allegedly concerned within the assaults, nor the character of their alleged involvement.
UNRWA, established in 1949 following the primary Arab-Israeli battle, offers companies together with education, main healthcare and humanitarian help to Palestinians
Israel’s offensive has laid waste to a lot of the densely populated Gaza Strip and killed greater than 26,000 Palestinians
Smoke rises following Israeli air strike in Al Bureije refugee camp throughout Isreali navy operation in southern Gaza Strip
A spokesperson for UNRWA wouldn’t present additional element on the state of affairs.
Minutes after the assertion was issued, the US State Department mentioned it had ‘quickly paused extra funding for UNRWA’ because it investigates the allegations.
An announcement from the division mentioned that Anthony Blinken, the US’ prime diplomat, had spoken to the UN’s Secretary-General António Guterres, who was individually briefed concerning the disaster, to push for a ‘thorough and swift investigation.’
The US is considered one of UNRWA’s largest donors, having despatched tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in help cash to help its efforts.
Last June, the US despatched $153.7 million to UNRWA in a single donation, which Lazzarini mentioned on the time was sufficient to maintain ‘over 700 faculties and 140 well being centres open over the subsequent months.’
The earlier 12 months, the US was the most important donor to UNRWA, contributing a complete of $344 million in 2022.
An unexploded missile is seen caught between two homes of Al Nusairat refugee camp throughout Israeli operations within the southern Gaza Strip
UNRWA, whose largest donors in 2022 included the United States, Germany and the European Union, has repeatedly mentioned its capability to render humanitarian help to individuals in Gaza is on the snapping point
UNRWA has supplied help and used its services to shelter individuals fleeing bombardment and a floor offensive launched by Israel in Gaza
The UK has additionally despatched important sums of cash to the company. In September, former overseas secretary James Cleverly introduced a £10 million help bundle for UNRWA.
MailOnline has contacted the UK’s Foreign Office for remark.
A UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, mentioned the worldwide organisation’s head was ‘horrified by this information.’
Dujarric added that the UN chief had requested Lazzarini to conduct a probe to make sure that any UNRWA worker proven to have participated or abetted the October 7 assaults be terminated instantly and referred for potential legal prosecution.
‘An pressing and complete unbiased assessment of UNRWA might be carried out,’ Dujarric added.
UNRWA, established in 1949 following the primary Arab-Israeli battle, offers companies together with education, main healthcare and humanitarian help to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
UNRWA has supplied help and used its services to shelter individuals fleeing bombardment and a floor offensive launched by Israel in Gaza following the October 7 assaults, during which Israel says 1,200 individuals have been killed and 253 taken hostage.
‘These surprising allegations come as greater than 2 million individuals in Gaza rely upon lifesaving help that the company has been offering for the reason that battle started,’ Lazzarini mentioned.
Israel’s offensive has laid waste to a lot of the densely populated Gaza Strip and killed greater than 26,000 Palestinians, in keeping with well being officers within the territory.
UNRWA, whose largest donors in 2022 included the United States, Germany and the European Union, has repeatedly mentioned its capability to render humanitarian help to individuals in Gaza is on the snapping point.
The diplomatic missions of the United States, Germany and the European Union in Geneva had no instant remark.
