by meagain on March 17, 2025 7:53 am
Read for yourself instead of swallowing Israeli propaganda. Note 200 UNRWA workers have died and they would all have been killed in Israeli raids in civilian structures.
UN completes investigation on UNRWA staff
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Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
United Nations Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
5 August 2024 UN Affairs
The UN said on Monday that nine staff working for its Palestine refugee agency UNRWA will be sacked because they may have been involved in the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks against Israel.
The development follows the conclusion of an investigation by the UN Office of Oversight Services (OIOS), launched earlier this year after Israel alleged that several UNRWA personnel took part in the brutal assault on its territory in which some 1,200 people were killed and another 250 were taken to Gaza as hostages.
However, OIOS was not able to independently authenticate information used by Israel to support the allegations.
Appropriate measures and terminations
OIOS is the highest investigative body in the UN system and its reports are confidential but can be made available to Member States upon request.
Investigators made findings in relation to 19 UNRWA staff alleged to have been involved in the attacks, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists in New York.
“In one case, no evidence was obtained by OIOS to support the allegations of the staff member’s involvement, while in nine other cases, the evidence obtained by OIOS was insufficient to support the staff members’ involvement,” he said.
Regarding these 10 cases, he said that appropriate measures will be taken in due course, in conformity with UNRWA Regulations and Rules.
With respect to the remaining nine cases, the evidence obtained by OIOS indicated that the UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the 7 October attacks.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini issued a statement acknowledging the completion of the probe.
“I have decided that in the case of these remaining nine staff members, they cannot work for UNRWA. All contracts of these staff members will be terminated in the interest of the Agency,” he said.
Information not authenticated
Asked about the extent of the staff members’ alleged involvement, Mr. Haq responded that he did not have specific information about the allegations.
He said the OIOS investigation involved visits to Israel for discussions with officials and to see and review information held by authorities there.
The investigators also travelled to Amman, Jordan, to obtain and review relevant information held by UNRWA, including on its staff and operations.
They also reviewed information and communications technology data, such as email records and information on agency vehicles, in addition to information from various other sources, including that released to the media and other public sources, and communications with several Member States.
“However, one thing I'd like to point out is that since information used by Israeli officials to support the allegations have remained in Israeli custody, OIOS was not able to independently authenticate most of the information provided to it,” he noted.
Parallel probe
The accusations surfaced in January when Israel informed UNRWA of the alleged involvement of 12 staff members in the attacks. UNRWA immediately identified and terminated the employment of 10, while two were confirmed dead.
The UN later received information from Israel about seven more cases – five in March and two in April.
Following the initial allegations, UN Secretary-General António Guterres immediately ordered OIOS to investigate.
He also appointed an independent review panel to conduct a separate assessment into UNRWA to determine whether the agency was doing everything it could to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they arise.
The panel – headed by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna - published its report in April.
Speaking at the time, she said that “the set of rules and the mechanisms and procedures in place [at UNRWA] are the most elaborate within the UN system, precisely because it is such a difficult issue to work in such a complex and sensitive environment”.
Mr. Lazzarini said that UNRWA has started implementing the panel’s recommendations and is fully committed to them.
“Finally, I reiterate UNRWA’s condemnation of the 7 October attack in the strongest possible terms. I call – once again – for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and their safe return to their families,” he said.
UN chief’s opinions
Mr. Haq was asked about the Secretary-General’s views regarding the OIOS findings.
The UN chief “believes that it is important that we go through this very carefully, given the fact that any involvement in these attacks would constitute a major betrayal of trust,” he said.
“Obviously, there were actions that were taken for the benefit of the agency that were very swift and very decisive in terms of dealing with the individuals who had been named at first, and now it's good to have all of the information available,” he added.
Referring to the Gaza war, Mr. Haq also underlined the importance of remembering that a “huge number” of UNRWA staff have been taking enormous risks for months, keeping hundreds of thousands of people alive, whether in shelters or by providing food and services.
“And we want to make sure that the reputation of our UNRWA staff, our dedicated staff, including about 200 people who have lost their lives since 7 October, is fully recognized and that UNRWA gets the support that it needs,” he said.
news.un.org
by oldedude on March 17, 2025 10:51 am
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini issued a statement acknowledging the completion of the probe.
“I have decided that in the case of these remaining nine staff members, they cannot work for UNRWA. All contracts of these staff members will be terminated in the interest of the Agency,” he said.
First, I understand what UNRWA does on the surface. What they're "supposed" to be doing. It's a huge investment to the Palestinian people that somehow needs to continue.
Second, if a company, agency, or organization investigates itself, I demand an independent investigation. Question for you. would you trust Trump, Inc investigating itself? I wouldn't either. That's dumb. That's why the US Military units have "self inspections." They get messages about what things happened to other units. A couple of times a year, the Major Command or the agency (Army, Air Force, etc) come in and evaluate their methods. If you fail, people get fired, simple as that.
You have that "single source for your very long, redundant post. That I'm not sure where your input starts and stops. There is no other colluding evidence. Apparently, the Intel Agencies from nine countries, the canadians, brits, germans, french, etcetcetc that have seen the evidence (photos, etc) are convinced. I trust the brits and germans to actually make rational decisions. The UN? Not at all. I know this bursts your bubble of lies. Bottom line. No one outside the UN believes this. That's really telling.
In January 2024 United Nations Watch Submitted to the Hearing on: “UNRWA Exposed: Examining the Agency’s Mission and Failures” to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability/ Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations
"I come here today to present a new report by my organization, United Nations Watch, which exposes the Telegram chat group of 3,000 UNRWA teachers that celebrated and encouraged the Hamas massacre of October 7th, and other acts of Jihadi terrorism. My purpose is to make the case that UNRWA is not, at it claims to be, a humanitarian agency that helps Palestinians, but rather, on the contrary, in the words of Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis: “UNRWA has become part of the problem. It supplies the ammunition to continue the conflict. By supporting UNRWA, we keep the conflict alive."
It goes on to describe how the terrorism is supported and the pains UNRWA takes to hide their activity.
Republican US Senator Jim Risch, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described the allegations “For years, I have warned the Biden Administration about resuming funding to UNRWA, which has a history of employing people connected to terrorist movements like Hamas. Today’s news is yet another example that underscores how corrupt this organization truly is.”
You can bring on anything you want. If you can get information outside the UN, I'm willing to see it. If it's still from the UN, it's blather. Just understand it isn't what the BND, MI5/ MI6, CSIS, or CIA saw. You're not going to be at that level.
docs.house.gov
cnn.com
by oldedude on March 17, 2025 10:55 am
Oh, I appreciate your post, wrong thread. No biggie, I do it too.
by meagain on March 17, 2025 11:33 am
It was an investigation by the UN, not a self investigation. No other source is needed.
by oldedude on March 17, 2025 11:53 am
The UN runs the Agency, or didn't you catch the name. So yes, it was investigating itself. Period. Are you really that lazy? You need to read your own reference and run google if the UN is lying to you.
I guess this isn't surprising, you also don't think Hamas is a terrorist organization. I guess, so isn't the IRA, PIRA, PFLP, Abu Nidal, etc.
USCENTCOM reported a total of four back-office guys were killed in a precision air strike, and SPECOPS team support on about March 14th in Iraq's Al Anbar Province. Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, aka "Abu Khadija," was "deputy caliph" of the militant group and known as "one of the most dangerous terrorists in Iraq and the world," the statement said. After the strike, CENTCOM and Iraqi forces moved to the strike site and found the two dead bodies, both of whom were wearing unexploded "suicide vests" and had multiple weapons, CENTCOM said.
