Review says UNRWA has ‘robust’ neutrality steps, though issues persist

Review says UNRWA has ‘robust’ neutrality steps, though issues persist

Report also says Israel has not provided evidence that UNRWA staff support terrorist groups.

People walk past the damaged Gaza headquarters of the United Nations relief and works agency for Palestine refugees. (AFP pic)
BEIRUT:
A review of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has found that it has robust frameworks to ensure compliance with humanitarian neutrality principles though issues persist.

The report, which could prompt some donors to review funding freezes, also said Israel had yet to provide supporting evidence for its claim that a significant number of UNRWA staff were members of terrorist organisations.

The United Nations appointed former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna to lead the UNRWA neutrality review in February after Israel alleged that 12 of UNRWA staff had taken part in the Hamas-led Oct 7 attacks on Israel which triggered the Gaza war.

In a separate investigation, a UN oversight body is looking into the allegations against the 12 UNRWA staff.

Reuters reviewed a copy of the Colonna-led review’s final report, which is due to be officially released later today.

The report said Israel had made public claims based on an UNRWA staff list provided to it in March that “a significant number” of UNRWA staff were “members of terrorist organisations”.

“However, Israel has yet to provide supporting evidence of this,” it said.

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