By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies

New York — The United Nations has dismissed nine employees from its agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, after an internal investigation revealed their possible involvement in the October 7 attack on Israel. The attack, led by Hamas militants, resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250 others.

The decision to terminate the staff members was announced Monday by the U.N. Secretary-General’s office. While the statement confirmed the dismissals, it did not provide specific details regarding the roles of the nine staffers in the attack. Notably, seven of these individuals had previously been terminated based on similar allegations.

The probe by the U.N.’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) was initiated following Israel’s allegations in January that 12 UNRWA staffers were implicated in the attack. This led to a significant backlash from major donor countries, who suspended their funding for UNRWA, resulting in a cash shortfall of approximately $450 million. Although most donor nations have resumed financial support, the U.S. remains the only country not to have renewed its contributions.

The OIOS investigation utilized evidence provided by Israeli authorities but did not have direct access to all relevant materials. The investigation reviewed internal UNRWA documents, including staff records and communications, to ascertain the involvement of the nine staff members.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, stated, “I have decided that in the case of these remaining nine staff members, they cannot work for UNRWA. 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.”

Lazzarini condemned the October 7 attack and emphasized the importance of UNRWA’s mission despite the challenges. In nine additional cases, the evidence was deemed insufficient for further action, while one case did not present any evidence of involvement.

The recent actions underscore the U.N.’s commitment to addressing concerns about staff conduct amid ongoing conflicts and complex geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.