UN sacks staff ‘involved in’ Hamas attacks

Twelve employees thought to have been let go after Israeli authorities share information with agency

THE United Nations’ agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says it has sacked several employees after reports of their involvement in the Oct 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

In a statement yesterday, the agency said it received information from Israel about the alleged involvement of some of its workers in last year’s incursion in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 240 people taken hostage.

Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA’s head, said: “The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7. To protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay.”

The announcement coincided with the International Court of Justice handing down a ruling that stopped short of ordering Israel to cease fighting in Gaza but told it to take all possible action to prevent genocide.

The US State Department said it was extremely troubled by the allegations, which it said pertained to 12 UNRWA employees. It said it would provide no additional funding to the agency until the allegations were addressed.

Matthew Miller, the US State Department spokesman, said: “The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them.”

Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defence minister, said the US decision was an important step toward holding UNRWA accountable. He said: “Major changes need to take place so that international efforts, funds, and humanitarian initiatives don’t fuel Hamas terrorism and the murder of Israelis.”

‘To protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I [ended] the contracts’

The US State Department had recently praised UNRWA’s work, and the Biden administration restored funding that was halted during Donald Trump’s tenure.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said it would “assess further steps and draw lessons based on the result of the full and comprehensive investigation”.

Mr Lazzarini, who has made frequent trips into Gaza during the war, has been one of the staunchest critics of Israeli ground operations.

The UNRWA was active in Gaza well before the start of the war, working across hospitals and schools. It was not immediately clear where the employees in question worked.

Earlier this month, UN Watch, a Geneva-based NGO that scrutinises the organisation’s work, raised the alarm about alleged Hamas sympathies among multiple UN employees in Gaza.

The group cited hate posts in a Telegram group of about 3,000 UNRWA teachers in Gaza, praising the Hamas attackers as “heroes”.

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, has been briefed about the allegations, said Stéphane Dujarric, his spokesman.

He added: “The Secretary-General is horrified by this news.”