DThe scandal surrounding the alleged involvement of some employees of the UN Palestinian Relief Agency in the massacre by the Islamist Hamas in Israel is becoming increasingly widespread. Around ten percent of all 12,000 UNRWA aid workers working in the Gaza Strip have connections to Hamas or Islamist Jihad, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing an Israeli intelligence dossier.
Meanwhile, talks about a possible new ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of more hostages are expected to continue this week. While Washington has been cautiously optimistic so far, according to Israeli media reports, Hamas said on Monday evening that it would not accept any agreement that did not include an end to the war and the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza.
Blink: UNRWA essential
The allegations against twelve UNRWA employees for their alleged involvement in the Hamas massacre caused outrage around the world. In response, numerous countries temporarily stopped their payments to the aid organization, including Germany, the USA, Great Britain and France. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken once again called for a quick clarification. The aid agency plays “an absolutely indispensable role in ensuring that the men, women and children who so urgently need help in Gaza actually receive it,” Blinken said on Monday in Washington.
The UN aid agency fired the employees and wants to investigate the allegations. “UNRWA's problem is not just 'a few bad apples' involved in the October 7 massacre,” the Wall Street Journal quoted a senior Israeli government official as saying. “The institution as a whole is a haven for Hamas’ radical ideology,” the official said. Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, also described the allegations against the twelve employees as the “tip of the iceberg”. The aid organization spreads “agitation and thwarts efforts for peace,” criticized Prosor in the FAZ
USA: Don't want war with Iran
Meanwhile, after the deadly attack by pro-Iranian militias on US military personnel in Jordan, the US government has made it clear that it will not seek escalation with Iran. “We are not looking for a war with Iran. We do not seek conflict with the regime through military means,” National Security Council Communications Director John Kirby said in Washington on Monday. They don't want another war or escalation. “But we will do what is necessary to protect ourselves, to continue this mission and to respond appropriately to these attacks.”
On Sunday, three US soldiers were killed in a drone attack by pro-Iranian militias in Jordan near the Syrian border. President Joe Biden blamed “radical Iran-backed militant groups” for the attack and threatened retaliation. According to the Wall Street Journal, US government officials said they were considering military strikes against militias in Iraq, Syria and possibly Iran. However, an attack on Iranian soil is a less likely scenario, it said.