An Israeli doc obtained on Monday (native time) spelt out allegations in opposition to a dozen UN staff the nation says took half in Hamas’ October 7 assault — claiming seven stormed into Israeli territory, together with one who participated in a kidnapping and one other who helped to steal a soldier’s physique.
The allegations in opposition to staffers with the UN company for Palestinian refugees prompted the US and several other different nations to freeze funds very important for the physique, which is a lifeline for determined Palestinians in Gaza. The White Home indicated that funding might be restored relying on the company’s investigation and subsequent actions.
The UN condemned “the abhorrent alleged acts” and fired 9 of the accused staff, who embrace academics and a social employee. Two are reportedly useless, and the final continues to be being recognized.
The accusations come after years of tensions between Israel and the company referred to as UNRWA over its work in Gaza, the place it employs roughly 13,000 individuals.
UNRWA is the largest assist supplier in Gaza, the place Israel’s struggle in opposition to Hamas has displaced the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants inside the besieged territory and plunged it right into a humanitarian disaster. UN officers say 1 / 4 of the inhabitants is ravenous.
With nearly all of its finances unsure, and since UNRWA spends contributions as they arrive in all year long, the company says will probably be pressured to halt operations inside weeks if funding isn’t restored.
‘SIGNIFICANT GAPS’ REMAIN IN CEASE-FIRE TALKS
The menace to the UN company got here as Israel mentioned cease-fire talks held on Sunday have been constructive however that “important gaps” remained in any potential settlement. The talks are supposed to result in some respite to war-torn Gaza and safe the discharge of greater than 100 hostages nonetheless held within the territory.
Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan instructed reporters in Beirut that discussions are persevering with however that the group continues to be insisting on a extra everlasting cease-fire earlier than releasing any extra hostages.
The prime minister of Qatar, which has served as a key mediator with Hamas, was extra upbeat, saying the US and Mideast mediators had reached a framework proposal for a cease-fire and hostage launch to current to the militant group. Talking on the Atlantic Council in Washington, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani mentioned the mediators had made “good progress.”
Israeli forces are in the meantime nonetheless battling Palestinian militants in several components of Gaza, even in areas the place the military has been working for months.
Israel issued an evacuation order to residents within the western a part of Gaza Metropolis, urging them to move south. The navy additionally mentioned it had battled militants and carried out airstrikes in latest days in different components of northern Gaza, which was pummelled within the first weeks of the struggle and the place Israel has claimed to have largely dismantled Hamas.
Militants additionally fired a barrage of round 15 rockets at central Israel for the primary time in weeks. There have been no speedy studies of casualties or harm.
The struggle was sparked by Hamas’ October 7 assault, which killed 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, and noticed some 250 individuals taken captive, in keeping with Israeli authorities.
Israel responded with an intense air, sea and floor offensive that has killed greater than 26,000 Palestinians, most of them ladies and minors, in keeping with the Gaza Well being Ministry. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its depend.
The struggle has additionally threatened to set off a wider regional battle. Within the newest instance of excessive tensions, the US introduced that three of its troops have been killed in a strike blamed on Iran-backed militias in Jordan.
DETAILED ALLEGATIONS AGAINST UNRWA WORKERS
The Israeli doc, which has been shared with US officers and was obtained by The Related Press, lists 12 individuals, their alleged roles within the assault, job descriptions and images. The findings detailed within the doc couldn’t be independently confirmed.
The doc mentioned intelligence gathered confirmed that no less than 190 UNRWA staff have been Hamas or Islamic Jihad operatives, with out offering proof.
It mentioned of the 12 staff, 9 have been academics and one a social employee. Seven of the staff have been accused of crossing into Israel on October 7. Of these, one was accused of participating in a kidnapping, one other of serving to to remove a useless soldier and three others of taking part within the assaults.
Ten have been listed as having ties to Hamas and one to the Islamic Jihad militant group. Two of the 12 have been killed, in keeping with the doc. The UN beforehand mentioned one was nonetheless being recognized.
The allegations have stoked longstanding tensions between Israel and UNRWA. Israel says Hamas makes use of the company’s amenities to retailer weapons and launch assaults. UNRWA says it doesn’t knowingly tolerate such behaviour and has inner safeguards to stop abuses and self-discipline any wrongdoing.
Even earlier than the newest allegations, the company’s commissioner, Philippe Lazzarini, had introduced that he was ordering an exterior assessment of the company’s operations and its safeguards.
Israel has lengthy been vital of the company and accuses it of serving to to perpetuate the 76-year-old Palestinian refugee disaster. Overseas Minister Israel Katz mentioned he cancelled a Wednesday assembly between Israeli officers and Lazzarini, and known as on the UNRWA head to resign.
CALLS TO RESUME FUNDING
The UN says the complete company shouldn’t be penalised over the alleged actions of the dozen staff, who it says shall be held accountable. It has known as for the donors to renew funding.
A coalition of 20 assist teams, together with the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and Save the Youngsters, additionally known as for funding to be restored, saying UNRWA’s supply of humanitarian help “can’t be changed”.
The US, the company’s largest donor, reduce funding over the weekend, adopted by greater than a dozen different nations. Collectively, they offered greater than 60 per cent of UNRWA’s finances in 2022.
However Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby mentioned it could be flawed to “impugn the nice work of a complete company due to the potential dangerous actions right here by a small quantity,” He appeared to depart the door open for a resumption of assist.
“I believe a number of it’s going to rely on what the investigation finds and what accountability measures and corrective measures UNWRA is keen to make,” he mentioned.
UNRWA supplies primary companies for Palestinian households who fled or have been pushed out of what’s now Israel throughout the 1948 struggle surrounding the nation’s creation. Refugees and their descendants now quantity practically 6 million throughout the Center East. In Gaza, they’re a majority of the inhabitants.
UNRWA is exclusive within the UN system as a result of it is just targeted on one nationwide group, with refugees from different conflicts falling beneath the purview of the company referred to as UNHCR.
Because the struggle started, most of Gaza’s 2.3 million individuals have come to rely on UNRWA’s applications for “sheer survival”, together with meals and shelter, Lazzarini mentioned.
Communications Director Juliette Touma warned that the company can be pressured to cease its help in Gaza by the tip of February.
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