Review raises concerns over problematic content in UNRWA textbooks and neutrality breaches by employees
UN report finds Israel lacks evidence against UNRWA employees being terrorists
An independent review commissioned by the United Nations has found that Israel lacks evidence to support its accusations that a significant number of employees of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Gaza (UNRWA) are members of terrorist organizations, such as Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The review, led by former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna, did not have a mandate to investigate Israel's claims that a dozen UNRWA employees took part in the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel. However, it did raise concerns about problematic content in UNRWA textbooks and the need for better screening of employees and more robust investigations into allegations of breaches of neutrality made by UNRWA employees.
UNRWA plays an indispensable role in the region, providing humanitarian aid and social services to displaced Palestinians in Gaza. The review found that the agency has significant mechanisms in place to ensure neutrality, but acknowledged that there were issues with investigations into allegations of breaches of neutrality made by UNRWA employees and instances where employees expressed political views or used UNRWA offices for political or military purposes.
The report also raised concerns about problematic content in UNRWA textbooks, specifically antisemitic references identified in three international assessments. However, it noted that two of these assessments did not provide evidence of antisemitic references and that one example identified as displaying antisemitic content had been removed.
The review listed a series of recommendations to improve UNRWA operations, including better training for staff, more robust screening of employees, and a review of the content of all textbooks and supplements.
An independent review commissioned by the United Nations was released on Monday, which found that Israel had not provided evidence to support its accusations that many employees of the main U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) are members of terrorist organizations.
Israel had leveled accusations that one in 10 of UNRWA’s 13,000 employees in the Gaza Strip was a member of Hamas or its ally, Palestinian Islamic Jihad,
