An independent review of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has concluded that Israel has not provided any evidence to support its claims that aid workers in Gaza are “terrorists.”
The review, ordered by UN Secretary-General Guterres, found some “neutrality-related issues” in the implementation of UNRWA’s programs, including public political statements by staff and “problematic content” in school textbooks. However, it emphasized that “most alleged breaches of neutrality relate to social media posts” made in the wake of violent incidents affecting colleagues or family.
The report made recommendations for improving neutrality, including through engagement with donors, staff neutrality, and the neutrality of education and governance. UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini has said he will accept the recommendations but warned against Israel’s “deliberate and concerted campaign” to end its operations.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has called for donor countries to abandon UNRWA, claiming that the report ignores the severity of the problem and offers cosmetic solutions. However, the report’s findings have been welcomed by the Palestinian Authority and other international organizations, who have long defended UNRWA’s work in Gaza.
UNRWA was founded in 1949 to aid Palestinians who fled or were expelled during the 1948 war. It currently provides services to nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees, including food aid, education, and healthcare.
