The accusations against UNRWA, criticisms, responses, and humanitarian effects

Twelve employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) have been accused of participating in the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas. Now, more than half of the agency's funding has been suspended by donors, jeopardizing the main provider of humanitarian aid, healthcare, education, and social services in the Gaza Strip and making living conditions extremely harsh for the population.

What is UNRWA?

UNRWA stands for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The Agency was founded in 1949 following a United Nations General Assembly resolution related to the Arab-Israeli war, which forced 700,000 Palestinians to flee their homes in what is now remembered as the Nakba ("catastrophe" in Arabic).

The agency now employs 30,000 Palestinians and addresses the needs of 5.9 million descendants of refugees in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and other countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Since the Gaza blockade of 2005, UNRWA's role has become even more critical as the blockade has devastated the local economy. Recently, following the October 7th attack, about one million residents of the strip have sought refuge from UNRWA, and nearly all Palestinians in Gaza rely on the agency for food, water, and hygiene supplies.

The accusations from Israel

An Israeli six-page dossier shared with the United States and reviewed by Reuters alleges that 12 UNRWA staff members took part in the October 7 attacks, including nine who worked as teachers in the agency's schools. Ten of them directly participated in the incursion into Israeli territory, during which fighters killed 1,200 people and captured more than 240 hostages, while two others were called to assist in the incursion. The dossier states that Israel also has broader evidence that UNRWA employed 190 militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad. However, several claims in the dossier are not corroborated by the press as the evidence has not been made public.

The criticisms

It is important to note that many of the statements, even if true, do not directly implicate UNRWA; as Moustafa Bayoumi quips in The Guardian: "By way of comparison, U.S. Army reservist Sabrina Harman was convicted in 2005 of mistreating detainees in connection with the Abu Ghraib scandal in Iraq. Harman worked as an assistant manager for Papa John's Pizza in Alexandria, Virginia, shortly before going to Iraq. Should Papa John's also have been prosecuted for mistreatment of detainees? Is Papa John's responsible for Harman's actions? Obviously not".

Some critics of the Israeli response—including Chris Gunness, UNRWA's director of communications for 13 years until 2020—have also pointed out the possibility of timing bias, highlighting the 'suspicious' timing of the revelations, immediately following the International Court of Justice's interim measures verdict ordering the country to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and to allow humanitarian aid into the territory.

The UNRWA Response

UNRWA responded to the accusations by swiftly dismissing the staff accused of participating in the attacks and initiating an internal investigation, reacting with dismay nonetheless to the suspension of funds, which had been inadequate for years. "It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the agency in response to allegations against a small group of employees, especially considering the immediate action UNRWA took in terminating their contracts and calling for an independent and transparent investigation", stated UNRWA Chief Philippe Lazzarini.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, while expressing shock at the accusations, reiterated that UNRWA is the cornerstone of the global humanitarian response in Gaza and that it is important to ensure the continuity of its work.

La ricezione internazionale

L’89% dei fondi dell’agenzia provengono infatti da stati membri delle nazioni unite, nel 2022 i principali donatori erano USA, Germania, UE, Svezia, Norvegia, Giappone, Francia, Arabia Saudita, Svizzera e Turchia. L'ondata di sospensioni dei finanziamenti è iniziata con gli Stati Uniti venerdì, subito dopo l'annuncio dell'indagine. A Washington si sono aggiunti lunedì Canada, Australia, Gran Bretagna, Germania, Italia, Paesi Bassi, Svizzera, Finlandia, Estonia, Giappone, Austria e Romania.

L’Irlanda e la Norvegia hanno invece espresso supporto all’agenzia per il suo ruolo vitale al sostentamento di milioni di palestinesi, “dobbiamo distinguere fra cosa hanno fatto degli individui e cosa rappresenta UNRWA” ha affermato il governo Norvegese. La Spagna ha anche espresso sostegno all’agenzia sottolineando che gli accusati sono 12 su 30.000 impiegati UNRWA.

International Reception

Indeed, 89% of the agency's funds come from United Nations member states. In 2022, the main donors were the USA, Germany, the EU, Sweden, Norway, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Turkey. The wave of funding suspensions began with the United States on Friday, immediately after the announcement of the investigation. On Monday, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria, and Romania joined in Washington's decision.

Ireland and Norway, on the other hand, have expressed support for the agency due to its vital role in sustaining millions of Palestinians. "We must distinguish between what individuals have done and what UNRWA represents", the Norwegian government stated. Spain has also expressed support for the agency, emphasizing that the accused are 12 out of 30,000 UNRWA employees.

Translated by Stefania Errico