Israeli intelligence documents shared with the United States have shed light on the involvement of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff members in the tragic incident that occurred on October 7, 2023.
The New York Times recently published a report disclosing that 12 individuals employed by UNRWA were connected to a terrorist attack led by Hamas in southern Israel. Among them, 10 were identified as Hamas operatives, and one was linked to Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Allegations against the UNRWA employees include accusations of kidnapping, participation in the Kibbutz Be’eri massacre, and the distribution of ammunition.
According to the dossier, seven of the accused were employed as teachers at UNRWA schools. Cell phone tracking revealed that six of these individuals were inside Israel on the day of the attack, while others were overheard discussing their involvement in Gaza.
Three of the accused received text messages instructing them to report to specific meeting points on October 7, and one was directed to bring a rocket-propelled grenade from his home.
The most detailed case in the report involves a school counselor from Khan Yunis in southern Gaza who is alleged to have collaborated with his son to abduct a woman from Israel. In another instance, a social worker from Nuseirat in central Gaza is said to have assisted in transporting an Israeli soldier’s body to Gaza, distributed ammunition, and coordinated vehicles on the day of the attack.
UNRWA took action by terminating the employment of some of the staff members implicated in these allegations. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced that nine had been dismissed, one was deceased, and the identities of the remaining two were under investigation.
In response to these developments, Austria has joined 14 other countries in suspending funding for UNRWA. These countries include Australia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Scotland, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S. Austria’s foreign ministry has called for a comprehensive and swift investigation into the allegations.
The October 7 terrorist attack resulted in the loss of approximately 1,200 lives, primarily civilians, with thousands more wounded and 253 individuals taken hostage to Gaza. As of now, 136 remain in the custody of Hamas, although some are confirmed to be deceased.
UNRWA has faced significant criticism since the incident, leading Israeli lawmakers to reconsider their country’s relationship with the agency. Reports from IMPACT-SE and the U.N. Watch NGO have also highlighted UNRWA employees expressing support for the attacks on social media. Additionally, missiles were discovered hidden among UNRWA relief supplies, and UNRWA-marked aid sacks were found to be filled with dirt and used in the construction of Hamas terror tunnels.
It is worth noting that Palestinians are the only refugee population with their dedicated U.N. agency, while the rest of the world’s refugees fall under the jurisdiction of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Israeli officials have called for the closure of UNRWA and the integration of Palestinian refugees into the UNHCR, primarily due to UNRWA’s unique definition of refugee status as hereditary and irrespective of citizenship in other countries, leading to a growing number of Palestinian refugees over time.
