UN fires 9 UNRWA staff for possible involvement in Oct. 7 attack on Israel

The U.N. says it has fired 9 unit members from its agency for Palestinian refugees, known arsenic UNRWA, aft an soul investigation recovered they whitethorn person been progressive successful nan Hamas-led Oct. 7 onslaught against Israel.

The U.N, secretary-general’s agency announced nan move successful a little connection to journalists Monday. It did not elaborate connected nan UNRWA staffers’ apt domiciled successful nan attack. It said nan 9 included 7 staffers who were fired antecedently complete nan claims.

The U.N.’s soul watchdog has been investigating nan agency since Israel successful January accused 12 UNRWA staffers of being progressive successful nan Oct. 7 onslaught connected Israel successful which militants killed 1,200 group and abducted immoderate 250 others.

Israel’s allegations initially led apical philanthropist countries, including Canada and nan U.S., to suspend their backing for UNRWA, nan main agency providing assistance to Palestinians successful Gaza amid nan 10-month aged conflict there. That caused a rate crunch of astir $450 cardinal dollars. Since then, each philanthropist countries isolated from for nan US person decided to resume funding.

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The U.N. watchdog, called nan Office of Internal Oversight Services, said it drew connected grounds provided by Israel successful discussions pinch Israeli authorities. It said it could not independently corroborate that grounds since it did not person nonstop entree to it. The investigators besides reviewed soul UNRWA information, including unit records, email and different communications data.

It said it recovered capable grounds pointing to 9 employees’ imaginable engagement successful nan Oct. 7 attack.

“I person decided that successful nan lawsuit of these remaining 9 unit members, they cannot activity for UNRWA,” nan agency’s caput Philippe Lazzarini said successful a statement.

“The agency’s privilege is to proceed lifesaving and captious services for Palestine refugees successful Gaza and crossed nan region, particularly successful nan look of nan ongoing war, nan instability and consequence of location escalation,” said Lazzarini, who besides said he condemned nan Oct. 7 attack.

In 9 different cases, nan grounds was insufficient, and successful 1 different lawsuit location was nary grounds pointing to involvement.