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The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday it had opened an investigation into “several” employees after receiving information from Israel about their alleged involvement in Hamas’s October 7 attack.
The US responded to the development, which came the same day as a high-profile case against Israel in the UN’s top court, by halting funding to UNRWA.
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA head, said the contracts of the employees had been immediately terminated. He added that he had ordered “an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay”.
“Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution,” Lazzarini said.
“UNRWA reiterates its condemnation in the strongest possible terms of the abhorrent attacks of October 7 and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages and their safe return to their families,” he added.
UNRWA did not provide any details of the employees’ alleged actions. But the US said the allegations involved 12 agency employees “who may have been involved” in the October 7 attacks.
Adding that it was “extremely troubled” by the allegations, the US state department said it had “temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them”.
The International Court of Justice ordered Israel on Friday to limit harm to Palestinians in Gaza in a politically explosive case brought by South Africa that alleges the country is committing genocide in the enclave.
This is a developing story
