An independent review of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has found that Israel never expressed concerns about anyone on the staff lists it has received annually since 2011.
The review was carried out after Israel alleged that a dozen employees of UNRWA had participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks. However, the independent panel found that these allegations have yet to be supported by evidence.
The panel’s report acknowledges serious gaps in UNRWA’s implementation of neutrality principles, including staff publicly expressing political views, textbooks used in schools the agency runs with “problematic content,” and staff unions disrupting operations. It makes 50 recommendations to improve UNRWA’s neutrality.
Despite the report’s findings, Israel’s Foreign Ministry called it insufficient and urged donor countries to withhold funding. UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, welcomed the report and called on Israel to “reconsider its position and fully cooperate” with the agency.
The review’s findings are significant because they contradict Israel’s allegations that UNRWA is infiltrated by Hamas. They also highlight the importance of maintaining the neutrality of humanitarian organizations in conflict zones.
