Today, we’re diving into a story that’s raising eyebrows and stirring up strong reactions across the globe. The United Nations has made a startling announcement: nine employees from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, better known as UNRWA, are suspected of being involved in the horrific Hamas-led attacks on Israel that took place on October 7th, 2023. These attacks claimed the lives of 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans, making it a significant and tragic event.
During a press briefing, Farhan Haq, a spokesperson for the U.N. Secretary-General, revealed that an investigation had been conducted into the possible involvement of UNRWA staff in these attacks. Out of 19 staff members who were under scrutiny, nine were found to have sufficient evidence against them, leading to their dismissal.
This is a big deal because UNRWA is a key organization that provides relief and support to Palestinian refugees, and any connection to such violent acts could severely damage its reputation and operations.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, announced that these staff members would no longer be employed by the agency. He emphasized that their contracts would be terminated to protect the integrity of UNRWA. But the fallout from this revelation doesn’t stop there.
.@UNRWA 9 of your employees might have participated in the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
And no, this isn’t evidence “fabricated” by us. This is straight from the @UN itself.A UN investigation (yes, UN as in the the first two letters of UNRWA) has concluded…
— LTC Nadav Shoshani (@LTC_Shoshani) August 5, 2024
Criticism of UNRWA has been swift and severe. Rabbi Abraham Cooper from the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles didn’t hold back in his response, calling for an end to funding for what he described as a “corrupted pro-Hamas anti-peace entity.” He argues that UNRWA is not part of the solution for Palestinians but rather a part of the problem.
The criticism also came from within Israel, where IDF spokesperson Nadav Shoshani blasted the agency, highlighting the findings of the U.N. investigation and condemning the involvement of UNRWA employees in the attacks. He suggested that this incident reveals the “true face” of the organization, which has long been under scrutiny for its alleged ties to extremist activities.
David Bedein, a longtime critic of UNRWA, called the investigation just "the tip of the iceberg," indicating that there might be more issues lurking beneath the surface. He has previously documented instances where UNRWA’s curriculum included pro-terrorism and antisemitic teachings, further fueling the controversy surrounding the agency.
This investigation and the subsequent dismissals come at a time when Israel is considering cutting ties with UNRWA entirely. Israeli lawmakers have already taken steps in this direction, with the Knesset passing the first reading of a bill that would label UNRWA as a terrorist entity. The U.S. has also suspended funding for the organization, although other nations, including Germany, Austria, and Japan, have resumed their financial support.