Israel: UNRWA
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to verify the number of UNRWA operatives involved in the 7 October 2023 attacks in Israel.
Answered by Mr Hamish Falconer
We condemn in the strongest possible terms the brutal terror attacks by Hamas and were appalled by the Government of Israel's allegations that United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff members were involved. The UN Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) report concluded that nine UNRWA staff members may have participated in the Hamas terrorist attack and the UNRWA Commissioner General took decisive action to terminate their contracts. For the remaining 10 staff there was no or insufficient evidence for the UN to take forward further action. The parallel independent Colonna review found that UNRWA's existing Neutrality Framework was "robust" and more developed than similar UN or Non-Governmental Organisation entities, but that neutrality related issues persist. £1 million of our funding to UNRWA this year is supporting the implementation of the review's agreed Action Plan to ensure UNRWA commits to these neutrality obligations. All alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in appalling acts in support of 7 October and subsequent events must be thoroughly investigated.
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