The United Nations has taken action against 12 of its employees in Gaza following allegations by Israel that they were involved in planning and participating in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 Israelis and the capture of over 240 others.
The workers, all men employed by the U.N. agency UNRWA, are now under criminal investigation, according to two U.N. officials.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, condemned the attacks and stated that any UNRWA employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.
The accusations have led to the United States temporarily halting funding to the organization, which is the main provider of aid to Gazans amid a dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
The State Department expressed deep concern over the allegations and emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
The United States is the largest donor to the agency, providing hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.
Israeli defense officials have collected substantial evidence linking the UNRWA employees to the Oct. 7 attack, further escalating the situation.
UNRWA was established to provide aid to millions of Palestinians across the Middle East, but has faced criticism and accusations from Israel and the U.N. since the outbreak of war in Gaza.
The U.N. and Israel have accused each other of acting in bad faith, adding to the complexity of the situation.
2024-01-26 19:32:29
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