On Friday 26 January, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, emphasised the EU’s extreme concern about allegations that staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) were involved in the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023.
The Israeli authorities have provided the UN agency with information about the alleged involvement of several of its employees in the attacks.
“We are in contact with UNRWA, expect it to provide full transparency on the allegations and to take immediate measures against staff involved”, stressed Mr Borrell.
The Agency’s Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, announced that the contracts of the staff in question had been terminated immediately “in order to protect the Agency’s ability to provide humanitarian aid”, and that an internal investigation had been launched.
The High Representative warned that the Commission would “assess further steps and draw lessons based on the result of the full and comprehensive investigation”. The US immediately suspended its financial support to the UN agency.
“UNRWA has been playing a vital role over many years supporting vulnerable Palestinian refugees in accessing vital services such as education and health, and is a crucial partner of the international community, including the EU”, said Mr Borrell.
The EU and its Member States are the largest financial contributors to the UN agency. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)