UN says nine UNRWA staff members 'may have been involved' in October 7 attacks

United Nations spokesman says organisation will need to take steps to 'fully corroborate' the information

Palestinians receive rations from the UNRWA warehouse in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip. AFP

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The UN said on Monday that nine employees with its agency for Palestinian refugees “may have been involved” in the October 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas, which caused the war in Gaza.

The UNRWA employees have been fired.

“We have sufficient information in order to take the actions that we're taking, which is to say, the termination of these nine individuals,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters in New York.

He said all the nine individuals who the investigation concluded may have been involved were men and that the organisation will need to take steps to “fully corroborate” the information.

“For us, any participation in the attacks is a tremendous betrayal of the sort of work that we are supposed to be doing on behalf of the Palestinian people,” said Mr Haq.

The UN’s internal watchdog, the Office of Internal Oversight Services, made the findings during an investigation into 19 UNRWA staff members regarding allegations of their involvement in the armed attacks in southern Israel.

The attacks left about 1,200 people dead, according to Israeli authorities, with around 250 taken hostage.

Of the other cases, Mr Haq said: “In one case, no evidence was obtained by OIOS to support the allegations of the staff member’s involvement, while in nine other cases, the evidence obtained by OIOS was insufficient to support the staff members’ involvement.”

When asked about the evidence the UN possesses, Mr Haq said he had no further information on the content of the accusations and evidence.

The UN said that the investigation included visits to Israel for discussions with officials and to review information from authorities as well as to Amman to gather data from UNRWA on staff and operations.

It also involved information and communications technology data analysis, including email records, as well as a review of media and public sources, and communications with several member states to obtain additional relevant information.

“One thing I'd like to point out is that since information used by Israeli officials to support the allegations have remained in Israeli custody, OIOS was not able to independently authenticate most of the information provided to it.”

The OIOS does not conduct criminal investigations, instead focusing on administrative fact-finding inquiries related to the personnel, funds and activities of the world body.

Due to safety and security concerns, the OIOS was unable to meet the UNRWA staff members involved in the investigation or potential corroborating witnesses.

“However, in some instances, OIOS was able to request and obtain video recorded statements from the subjects, who responded to a series of predetermined questions about their alleged involvement in the armed attacks on October 7,” the UN said.

In a statement, Philippe Lazzarini, the agency’s commissioner general, said he has decided that the remaining nine staff members are no longer eligible to work for UNRWA.

“All contracts of these staff members will be terminated in the interest of the agency,” he said.

The UN agency’s priority, added Mr Lazzarini, is to continue lifesaving and critical services for Palestine refugees in Gaza and across the region, especially in the face of the ongoing war, the instability and risk of regional escalation.

Israel's ambassador to the UN called the investigation “a disgrace”.

“It is too little, too late – ignoring thousands of agency employees involved to various degrees in Hamas’s terror activities,” Gilad Erdan said.

“Israel provided the UN with detailed information regarding over 100 UNRWA employees who were direct members of the terrorist organisation Hamas," he added. "Despite Israel's extensive co-operation with, and provision of information to, the UN, its investigation's conclusions are yet another disgrace. It still refuses to recognise the reality of its agency.”

But Chris Guinness, former chief spokesman for UNRWA, said the UN investigation had found Israel's claims “baseless”.

“Allegations into more than half were rejected outright. Of the few remaining, the UN says there may have been involvement - not that there was" if the evidence can be corroborated, he said.

“UNRWA must put this politically motivated distraction behind it and remain true to its mandate of providing protection and life-saving to millions of Palestine refugees around the Middle East.”

The accusations against UNRWA prompted governments all over the world, including the US, to suspend funding to the agency, threatening its efforts to deliver aid in Gaza. Several countries have since resumed funding.

UNRWA, which has provided essential aid for Palestinian refugees since 1949, has long been criticised by Israel.

Earlier this year, Mr Lazzarini called for Israel to “stop its campaign” against the organisation, citing “outrageous” attacks on its employees, facilities and operations.