Catherine Colonna, chair of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Independent Review Group, speaks at a press conference in New York in February 2024 (Angela Weiss/AFP)
- The investigation found that UNRWA has some “neutrality-related issues,” but it has a robust approach to remaining neutral.
- Israel has not provided evidence of its claims that its personnel were directly involved in the October 7 attack.
- The report could prompt countries that have withheld funding from the agency to reconsider their stance.
A review of the United Nations Palestine Refugee Agency (UNRWA) found that while problems persist, the agency has a strong framework in place to ensure compliance with humanitarian neutrality principles, prompting some donors to reconsider funding freezes. This has been revealed in a report that may prompt
The report also stated that Israel has not yet provided evidence to support the claim that a significant number of UNRWA personnel are members of terrorist organizations, based on a list of personnel submitted in March.
In February, the United Nations suspended former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna from UNRWA's neutrality review after Israel claimed that 12 UNRWA employees took part in the Hamas-led October 7 attack that triggered the Gaza war. was appointed as the person in charge.
Israel stepped up its condemnation in March, claiming that more than 450 UNRWA employees were military operatives of the Gaza terrorist organization.
Israel's mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the coronavirus-led review.
In a separate investigation, the UN watchdog is investigating Israeli allegations against 12 UNRWA staff.
Reuters has reviewed a copy of the final report of the Corona-driven investigation, which is expected to be released later on Monday.
UN Secretary-General Spokesman António Guterres said he accepted the recommendation and called on countries to actively support UNRWA as it is “a lifeline for Palestinian refugees in the region”.
The report said Israel publicly claimed that a “significant number” of UNRWA personnel were members of “terrorist organizations” based on a list of UNRWA personnel provided in March.
“However, Israel has not yet provided any evidence to support this,” the paper said.
Israeli allegations against more than a dozen UNRWA staff have led 16 countries to suspend or halt $450 million in funding to UNRWA, which has hit Gaza since Israel launched its offensive there. It was a blow to the agency, which deals with humanitarian crises.
Israel has long had grievances with the agency, which was established in 1949 to care for Palestinian refugees. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for the closure of UNRWA, arguing that it aims to perpetuate the Palestinian refugee problem.
In March, UNRWA Director-General Philippe Lazzarini warned of a “planned and coordinated campaign” to end its operations.
Israel launched an attack on Gaza after Hamas fighters rampaged through Israeli towns on October 7, killing 1,200 people by an Israeli tally. Israeli operations in Gaza have killed more than 34,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.
UNRWA announced that it had terminated the contracts of 10 of the 12 personnel accused by Israel of involvement in the October 7 attack, and that two others had died.
UNRWA employs 32,000 people across its territory, 13,000 of whom are in the Gaza Strip.
political views, textbooks
The report said UNRWA annually shares its staff list with Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Israel.
It noted that UNRWA has a “more developed approach” to neutrality than other similar UN and aid organizations. “Despite this strong framework, issues related to neutrality remain,” the report said.
These include some staff publicly expressing political views, textbooks with questionable content being used in some UNRWA schools, and politicized staff unions threatening UNRWA management. He said that this includes acts such as carrying out activities or interfering with operations.
Challenges to UNRWA's neutrality in Gaza include the scale of the operation, with most personnel locally employed and also receiving UNRWA services, the review said.
Some states resumed funding to UNRWA, but called for “strengthening of UNRWA's existing neutral mechanisms and procedures, including vetting and monitoring of staff.”
The report recommended establishing “an ongoing review process, particularly in the case of staff promotions.”
The group called UNRWA “an irreplaceable and essential entity for the human and economic development of the Palestinian people.”
Following Israeli allegations against UNRWA staff, the United States, the largest annual contributor to UNRWA between $300 million and $400 million, suspended funding, and the U.S. Congress subsequently halted contributions until at least March 2025. .
