Israel’s claims of terrorist affiliations among UNRWA staff lack substantiated evidence, as revealed by a neutrality review led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna.
The review was commissioned by the United Nations in response to Israel’s accusations that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, which precipitated the Gaza conflict.
Despite Israel’s allegations, the review found no concrete evidence supporting these claims.
A separate internal investigation by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services is underway to examine Israel’s accusations against the 12 UNRWA staff. Israel has yet to provide corroborating evidence to support its assertions.
UNRWA, responsible for providing education, health, and aid to millions of Palestinians across multiple regions, annually shares its staff lists with relevant authorities, including Israel.
Israel had not raised any concerns regarding UNRWA staff members since 2011 until it publicly accused a significant number of employees of terrorist affiliations in March 2024.
In response to Israel’s allegations, the Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed that over 2,135 UNRWA workers were linked to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
This assertion was challenged by the Colonna review, which Israel dismissed as inadequate in addressing the alleged infiltration of Hamas into UNRWA.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres accepted the recommendations outlined in the review.
He emphasized the importance of supporting UNRWA, acknowledging its critical role in assisting Palestinian refugees in the region.
Following Israel’s allegations, several donor countries paused or suspended funding to UNRWA, amounting to $450 million.
While some countries have resumed funding, major contributors like the United States have yet to reinstate financial support, posing operational challenges for UNRWA’s humanitarian efforts in the region.
