{"id":300749,"date":"2024-08-05T11:04:39","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T15:04:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=300749"},"modified":"2024-09-04T11:09:36","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T15:09:36","slug":"unrwa-investigation-statement-05aug24","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/unrwa-investigation-statement-05aug24\/","title":{"rendered":"Investigation completed: allegations on UNRWA staff participation in the 7 October attacks – UNRWA Commissioner-General statement"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u0639\u0631\u0628\u064a<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

05 August 2024<\/p>\n

From Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

GENEVA\/ AMMAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI acknowledge the completion of the investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services\u00a0(OIOS)\u00a0into\u00a0the serious\u00a0allegations\u00a0that 19\u00a0\u00a0area UNRWA\u00a0staff members\u00a0in Gaza\u00a0were\u00a0involved\u00a0in the\u00a0abhorrent\u00a0attacks of 7 October\u00a0on southern\u00a0Israel.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe allegations were brought to the Agency\u2019s attention in January. \u00a0In close consultation with the United Nations\u00a0Secretary-General (SG), I immediately terminated the contracts of\u00a0the\u00a0staff\u00a0in question, in the interest\u00a0of the Agency, while the SG tasked OIOS to launch\u00a0an investigation.\u00a0\u00a0Additional allegations were brought to our attention in March and April\u00a0and the concerned staff were added to the OIOS investigation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe\u00a0OIOS\u00a0investigation\u2019s outcomes\u00a0are the following:<\/p>\n

\u201cIn one case, no evidence was obtained by OIOS to support the allegations of the staff member\u2019s involvement. That\u00a0staff member has rejoined the Agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn\u00a0nine\u00a0other cases,\u00a0the evidence\u00a0obtained by OIOS\u00a0was insufficient to support\u00a0the staff members\u2019 involvement\u00a0and the OIOS investigation of them is now closed.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor\u00a0the\u00a0remaining nine cases,\u00a0the evidence\u00a0\u2013\u00a0if\u00a0authenticated and corroborated\u00a0\u2013\u00a0could\u00a0indicate that the UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the\u00a0attacks of\u00a07 October.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have decided\u00a0that in the case of these remaining nine staff members, they cannot work for UNRWA. \u00a0All\u00a0contracts of these staff members\u00a0will be\u00a0terminated\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0interest\u00a0of the\u00a0Agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Agency\u2019s priority\u00a0is\u00a0to continue\u00a0lifesaving and critical services\u00a0for Palestine Refugees\u00a0in Gaza\u00a0and\u00a0across\u00a0the region, especially in the face of the ongoing war,\u00a0the instability and risk of regional escalation.<\/p>\n

\u201cUNRWA\u00a0is committed to\u00a0continue\u00a0upholding\u00a0the\u00a0fundamental\u00a0principles and\u00a0values\u00a0of the United Nations,\u00a0including\u00a0the humanitarian principle of\u00a0neutrality, and to\u00a0ensure\u00a0that\u00a0all\u00a0its staff\u00a0abide by\u00a0the Agency’s policy on\u00a0outside and political activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn April, an independent Agency-wide review by three reputable research centres under the\u00a0leadership\u00a0of former French Foreign\u00a0Minister\u00a0Catherine Colonna\u00a0concluded that UNRWA\u00a0\u2018possesses a more developed approach to neutrality than other similar UN or NGO\u00a0entities\u2019.\u00a0The Agency has started implementing the recommendations of the review\u201d\u00a0and is fully committed to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinally, I\u00a0reiterate\u00a0UNRWA\u2019s\u00a0condemnation\u00a0of the 7 October attack\u00a0in the strongest possible terms. I\u00a0call\u00a0\u2013 once again\u00a0\u2013\u00a0for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and their safe return to their families.”<\/p>\n

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Notes to Editors:<\/strong><\/p>\n