神马午夜福利网

05 August 2024

From Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General?

GENEVA/ AMMAN

“I acknowledge the completion of the investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services?(OIOS)?into?the serious?allegations?that 19??area UNRWA?staff members?in Gaza?were?involved?in the?abhorrent?attacks of 7 October?on southern?Israel.

“The allegations were brought to the Agency’s attention in January. ?In close consultation with the United Nations?Secretary-General (SG), I immediately terminated the contracts of?the?staff?in question, in the interest?of the Agency, while the SG tasked OIOS to launch?an investigation.??Additional allegations were brought to our attention in March and April?and the concerned staff were added to the OIOS investigation.

“The?OIOS?investigation’s outcomes?are the following:

“In one case, no evidence was obtained by OIOS to support the allegations of the staff member’s involvement. That?staff member has rejoined the Agency.

“In?nine?other cases,?the evidence?obtained by OIOS?was insufficient to support?the staff members’ involvement?and the OIOS investigation of them is now closed.

“For?the?remaining nine cases,?the evidence?–?if?authenticated and corroborated?–?could?indicate that the UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the?attacks of?7 October.

“I have decided?that in the case of these remaining nine staff members, they cannot work for UNRWA. ?All?contracts of these staff members?will be?terminated?in?the?interest?of the?Agency.

“The Agency’s priority?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.

“UNRWA?is committed to?continue?upholding?the?fundamental?principles and?values?of the United Nations,?including?the humanitarian principle of?neutrality, and to?ensure?that?all?its staff?abide by?the Agency’s policy on?outside and political activities.

“In April, an independent Agency-wide review by three reputable research centres under the?leadership?of former French Foreign?Minister?Catherine Colonna?concluded that UNRWA?‘possesses a more developed approach to neutrality than other similar UN or NGO?entities’.?The Agency has started implementing the recommendations of the review”?and is fully committed to them.

“Finally, I?reiterate?UNRWA’s?condemnation?of the 7 October attack?in the strongest possible terms. I?call?– once again?–?for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and their safe return to their families.”

Notes to Editors:

• Two of the 19 staff members were confirmed deceased. UNRWA cannot confirm the circumstances of their death.
• UNRWA has nearly 30,000 staff across the region including 13,000 in the Gaza Strip.