Report says Israel didn’t provide evidence of UNRWA staff terrorist links : NPR

Israel has not supplied proof to assist its accusation {that a} “vital” variety of workers of the U.N. aid company for Palestinian refugees within the Gaza Strip are members of terrorist organizations, in keeping with an unbiased assessment commissioned by the United Nations.

The assessment, launched Monday and led by former French international minister Catherine Colonna, didn’t have a mandate to analyze Israel’s extra incendiary declare {that a} dozen workers of UNRWA took half within the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault on Israel. A separate investigation by the United Nations Workplace of Inside Oversight Providers is main the examination of these claims.

Greater than a dozen worldwide donors, together with the U.S., suspended about $450 million in funding after the allegations in February. Some nations have restored funding. Congress has suspended U.S. monetary assist till at the least March 2025.

UNRWA, formally often called the United Nations Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees within the Close to East, is the primary company in Gaza offering humanitarian support and social providers — crucial at a time when there are dire shortages of meals, water and sanitary situations due to the Israeli navy marketing campaign. At a press convention Monday, Colonna stated UNRWA “performs an indispensable and irreplaceable position within the area.”

The nine-week assessment she led targeted on whether or not UNRWA was “doing every thing in its energy to make sure neutrality.” The report discovered the company had vital mechanisms in place to make sure neutrality, most likely greater than different U.N. organizations or businesses, which Colonna stated was “a necessity contemplating the very tough surroundings, advanced and tough state of affairs by which they function.”

Even so, the assessment discovered there have been issues, together with insufficient investigations into allegations of breaches of neutrality made by UNRWA workers.

It additionally stated there have been instances when UNRWA workers expressed political beliefs and that a few of its workplaces had been used for “political or navy functions.” The report raised issues about UNRWA colleges, particularly with textbooks the report stated had “problematic content material.”

The report stated UNRWA has obtained sustained criticism, primarily from Israel and NGOs, over the alleged presence of hate speech, incitement to violence and antisemitism in Palestinian Authority textbooks and academic dietary supplements. Some donors have additionally raised vital issues. In three worldwide assessments of the textbooks, the report says two recognized “bias and non-compliant content material, however didn’t present proof of antisemitic reference.” A 3rd examine recognized two examples that “displayed antisemitic content material” however famous that one had been eliminated, the opposite altered.

The report additionally raised issues about screening UNRWA workers. In keeping with the report, the Israeli Ministry of Overseas Affairs stated that till earlier this 12 months, it had obtained workers lists with out Palestinian identification numbers.

“On the premise of the March 2024 record, which contained Palestinian ID numbers, Israel made public claims {that a} vital variety of UNRWA workers are members of terrorist organizations,” the report says. “Nevertheless, Israel has but to supply supporting proof of this.”

The report listed a collection of suggestions to enhance UNRWA operations, together with higher coaching, extra strong screening of workers, and a assessment of content material of all textbooks and dietary supplements.