A US intelligence review of Israel's allegations on UN aid agency staff member's involvement in the Oct. 7 attack deems few accusations credible, though their independent verification remains inconclusive. The assessment also questions the validity of broader connections to militant groups.
The shocking accusation led several countries, including the US, to cut off funding for the agency. The funds are an imperative necessity for getting aid to Gaza in what is a spiraling humanitarian crisis.
Earlier this year, Israel accused 12 employees of the United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency (UNRWA) of participating in the Oct. 7 attacks alongside Hamas. It also said 10% of all UNRWA workers are affiliated with Hamas.
A report obtained by The Guardian notes Israel's dislike towards the UNRWA.
"There is a specific section that mentions how Israeli bias serves to mischaracterize much of their assessments on UNRWA and says this has resulted in distortions," according to a source from The Wall Street Journal.
The four-page report by the National Intelligence Council was shared with US government officials last week.
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken defended Israel's accusations, doubling that they are "highly, highly credible." Nine staff members were terminated by the head of the agency, who said he followed "reverse due process" in doing so.
Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner general of the UNRWA, told a press conference in Jerusalem earlier in February that he had not investigated the evidence before the firing.
"I could have suspended them, but I have fired them. And now I have an investigation, and if the investigation tells us that this was wrong, in that case at the UN we will decide on how to properly compensate [them]," he said.
Credible Allegations:
Meanwhile, a separate UN report released on Monday by a group of UN experts presented appalling and credible evidence of Palestinian women and girls subjected to "multiple forms of sexual assault by male Israeli army officers," revealed The Guardian.
The accusations describe rape and the detention of Palestinian women in cages, in addition to "photos of female detainees in degrading circumstances reportedly taken by the Israeli army and uploaded online."
"We remind the government of Israel of its obligation to uphold the right to life, safety, health, and dignity of Palestinian women and girls and to ensure that no one is subject to violence, torture, ill-treatment, or degrading treatment, including sexual violence," UN experts said.
So far, Israel has failed to provide valid evidence proving any of their claims.
Lazzarini emphasized Israel's goal for the dissolution of UNRWA, to change the long-standing political parameters for peace in the occupied Palestinian territory-- established by the General Assembly and the UN Security Council.
"They [Israel] seek to eliminate UNRWA's role in protecting the rights of Palestine Refugees and acting as a witness to their continuing plight."
