TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli doc obtained Monday spelled out allegations towards a dozen U.N. workers the nation says took half in Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault — claiming seven stormed into Israeli territory, together with one who participated in a kidnapping and one other who helped to steal a soldier’s physique.
The allegations towards staffers with the U.N. company for Palestinian refugees prompted the US and a number of other different international locations to freeze funds important for the physique, which is a lifeline for determined Palestinians in Gaza. The White Home indicated that funding may very well be restored relying on the company’s investigation and subsequent actions.
The U.N. condemned “the abhorrent alleged acts” and fired 9 of the accused employees, who embrace academics and a social employee. Two are reportedly lifeless, and the final remains to be being recognized.
The accusations come after years of tensions between Israel and the company often called UNRWA over its work in Gaza, the place it employs roughly 13,000 folks.
UNRWA is the largest support supplier in Gaza, the place Israel’s battle towards Hamas has displaced the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants throughout the besieged territory and plunged it right into a humanitarian disaster. U.N. officers say 1 / 4 of the inhabitants is ravenous.
With the vast majority of its funds doubtful, and since UNRWA spends contributions as they arrive in all year long, the company says will probably be pressured to halt operations inside weeks if funding is not restored.
The risk to the U.N. company got here as Israel mentioned cease-fire talks held Sunday have been constructive however that “important gaps” remained in any potential settlement. The talks are supposed to result in some respite to war-torn Gaza and safe the discharge of greater than 100 hostages nonetheless held within the territory.
Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan instructed reporters in Beirut that discussions are persevering with however that the group remains to be insisting on a extra everlasting cease-fire earlier than releasing any extra hostages.
The prime minister of Qatar, which has served as a key mediator with Hamas, was extra upbeat, saying U.S. and Mideast mediators had reached a framework proposal for a cease-fire and hostage launch to current to the militant group. Talking on the Atlantic Council in Washington, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani mentioned the mediators had made “good progress.”
Israeli forces are in the meantime nonetheless battling Palestinian militants in numerous components of Gaza, even in areas the place the military has been working for months.
Israel issued an evacuation order to residents within the western a part of Gaza Metropolis, urging them to go south. The navy additionally mentioned it had battled militants and carried out airstrikes in latest days in different components of northern Gaza, which was pummeled within the first weeks of the battle and the place Israel has claimed to have largely dismantled Hamas.
Militants additionally fired a barrage of round 15 rockets at central Israel for the primary time in weeks. There have been no instant experiences of casualties or harm.
The battle was sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault, which killed 1,200 folks, largely civilians, and noticed some 250 folks taken captive, in keeping with Israeli authorities.
Israel responded with an intense air, sea and floor offensive that has killed greater than 26,000 Palestinians, most of them girls and minors, in keeping with the Gaza Well being Ministry. The ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its depend.
The battle has additionally threatened to set off a wider regional battle. Within the newest instance of excessive tensions, the U.S. introduced that three of its troops have been killed in a strike blamed on Iran-backed militias in Jordan.
The Israeli doc, which has been shared with U.S. officers and was obtained by The Related Press, lists 12 folks, their alleged roles within the assault, job descriptions and photographs. The findings detailed within the doc couldn’t be independently confirmed.
The doc mentioned intelligence gathered confirmed that a minimum of 190 UNRWA employees have been Hamas or Islamic Jihad operatives, with out offering proof.
It mentioned of the 12 employees, 9 have been academics and one a social employee. Seven of the staff have been accused of crossing into Israel on Oct. 7. Of these, one was accused of participating in a kidnapping, one other of serving to to remove a lifeless soldier and three others of taking part within the assaults.
Ten have been listed as having ties to Hamas and one to the Islamic Jihad militant group. Two of the 12 have been killed, in keeping with the doc. The U.N. beforehand mentioned one was nonetheless being recognized.
The allegations have stoked longstanding tensions between Israel and UNRWA. Israel says Hamas makes use of the company’s amenities to retailer weapons and launch assaults. UNRWA says it doesn’t knowingly tolerate such habits and has inner safeguards to stop abuses and self-discipline any wrongdoing.
Even earlier than the most recent allegations, the company’s commissioner, Philippe Lazzarini, had introduced that he was ordering an exterior evaluate of the company’s operations and its safeguards.
Israel has lengthy been important of the company and accuses it of serving to to perpetuate the 76-year-old Palestinian refugee disaster. International Minister Israel Katz mentioned he canceled a Wednesday assembly between Israeli officers and Lazzarini, and referred to as on the UNRWA head to resign.
The U.N. says all the company shouldn’t be penalized over the alleged actions of the dozen employees, who it says will probably be held accountable. It has referred to as for the donors to renew funding.
A coalition of 20 support teams, together with the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and Save the Kids, additionally referred to as for funding to be restored, saying UNRWA’s supply of humanitarian help “can’t be changed.”
The US, the company’s largest donor, reduce funding over the weekend, adopted by greater than a dozen different international locations. Collectively, they offered greater than 60% of UNRWA’s funds in 2022.
However Nationwide Safety Council spokesperson John Kirby mentioned it will be incorrect to “impugn the great work of an entire company due to the potential unhealthy actions right here by a small quantity,” He appeared to go away the door open for a resumption of support.
“I believe lots of it’s going to depend upon what the investigation finds and what accountability measures and corrective measures UNWRA is keen to make,” he mentioned.
UNRWA gives fundamental companies for Palestinian households who fled or have been pushed out of what’s now Israel throughout the 1948 battle surrounding the nation’s creation. Refugees and their descendants now quantity almost 6 million throughout the Center East. In Gaza, they’re a majority of the inhabitants.
UNRWA is exclusive within the U.N. system as a result of it is just targeted on one nationwide group, with refugees from different conflicts falling underneath the purview of the company often called UNHCR.
For the reason that battle started, most of Gaza’s 2.3 million folks have come to depend upon UNRWA’s packages for “sheer survival,” together with meals and shelter, Lazzarini mentioned.
Communications Director Juliette Touma warned that the company could be pressured to cease its assist in Gaza by the tip of February.
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Jobain reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip, and Jeffery from London.
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Observe AP’s protection of the Israel-Hamas battle at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
