The independent review, headed by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, examined allegations made by Tel Aviv that UNRWA workers were involved in terrorist activities. However, the review found no evidence to support these claims.
The review did recommend strengthening safeguards to ensure the impartiality of UNRWA employees, as neutrality-related issues persist. It found immediate improvement was needed in areas including donor engagement and neutrality in staff and education.
Senator Wong acknowledged UNRWA’s lifesaving work and said the government was working with the agency to ensure its integrity and neutrality. “We will work with our partners and the UN to ensure that recommendations from these inquiries are implemented by UNRWA,” she said in a statement.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmostein criticized the Colonna review, saying it “ignores the severity of the problem, and offers cosmetic solutions that do not deal with the enormous scope of Hamas’ infiltration of UNRWA”.
Australia and other nations have expressed concern that UNRWA was the only agency capable of delivering aid at the scale needed in the besieged enclave. The 7 October attack was a significant escalation in the long-standing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Australia has called for Israel to act per international humanitarian law and for more aid to flow into Gaza. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham has criticized the timing of the union’s statement, calling it “completely tone deaf”.
The statement urged the release of hostages, expressed concern at civilian deaths on both sides of the Gaza Strip and called for a permanent ceasefire.
