The United Nations has taken further action following an investigation that implicated additional staff from its agency for Palestinian refugees in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7. On Monday, the UN announced the dismissal of more employees after an internal probe suggested their potential involvement in the attack.
The announcement came from the UN Secretary-General’s office, with Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq confirming the firings but withholding specifics about the staff members' roles or the evidence leading to their dismissal. Previously, the UNRWA had terminated 12 staff members and placed seven on administrative leave. The recent dismissals include individuals from these earlier groups, as confirmed by UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma. However, the total number of employees fired from the agency remains unclear.
The internal watchdog, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, has been examining UNRWA since Israel accused 12 staff members of involvement in the October 7 assault, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of approximately 250 others. This led to a temporary suspension of funding from major donor countries, creating a financial shortfall of around USD 450 million. Most donors, except the US, have since resumed their support.
Following the recent firings, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein urged donor nations to halt their funding, suggesting that the money might end up in the hands of terrorist groups. He criticized UNRWA, calling for its replacement with other aid organizations.
The UN’s investigation used evidence provided by Israeli authorities but could not independently verify it due to a lack of direct access. The probe also reviewed internal UNRWA records and communications. While sufficient evidence was found against nine employees, other cases lacked adequate proof of involvement.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini expressed his decision to remove the nine staff members, emphasizing the agency's commitment to providing essential services to Palestinian refugees amid ongoing conflict. He condemned the October 7 attack and stressed the agency’s focus on delivering aid during the crisis.
Despite these actions, Israel continues to demand the agency’s closure, accusing it of collaborating with Hamas and ignoring the militant group's activities. UNRWA has consistently denied these allegations, reporting substantial damage and loss of life among its staff and facilities due to the war.
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