UNRWA Under Investigation for Alleged Ties to Terrorist Groups; Office of Internal Oversight Services Closes One Case and Suspends Three Others

On Friday, the United Nations (UN) made announcements regarding five out of the 19 cases targeting UNRWA employees who were accused by Israel of being involved in the Hamas attacks on October 7. The accusations caused turmoil within UNRWA and led to a decrease in funding, particularly at a time when the Gaza Strip is facing dire humanitarian conditions, including the threat of widespread famine.

The Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) has been investigating these 19 UNRWA personnel, with 12 of them having their contracts terminated in January. Of these 12, one case was closed due to lack of evidence provided by Israel, and three others were suspended as the information provided was insufficient for an investigation. Seven new cases have been flagged, with one being suspended until more evidence is received. In total, 14 employees are still under investigation.

These announcements come after an independent assessment mission conducted by the OIOS investigators found that UNRWA lacks political neutrality but there is no proof of alleged links to terrorist organizations among its members. The report highlighted the importance of UNRWA in providing vital humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the occupied West Bank.

Israeli accusations had prompted some donor countries to suspend funding but many have resumed their support, with the exception of the United States. UNRWA employs over 30,000 individuals who serve 5.9 million Palestinians in the region.

The OIOS investigators have engaged in discussions with Israeli authorities and further visits are planned for May. These discussions have been deemed constructive and have helped progress the investigations.

In conclusion, despite facing criticism from Israel and loss of funding from some donor countries, UNRWA remains committed to providing vital humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees in need across five countries in