DThe Israeli government has apparently sent the US an intelligence report detailing allegations against 12 UNRWA employees who were said to have been involved in the Hamas attack on October 7th. The report was sent on Friday, writes the New York Times, citing intelligence sources. American government officials told the newspaper that the United States had not yet verified the Israeli allegations itself, but considered them credible enough to justify suspending aid payments to the UN agency.
According to the report, a UN employee is accused of kidnapping a woman from Israel along with his son. Another is said to have been involved in a massacre on a kibbutz in which 97 people were killed. A UN social worker is accused by Israeli intelligence of helping to bring the body of a dead Israeli soldier to Gaza, as well as distributing ammunition and coordinating vehicles on the day of the attack.
In total, Israel accuses twelve employees of the Palestinian relief organization of helping Hamas on October 7th or supporting it in the days afterwards. According to Israeli figures, around 1,200 people in Israel were killed in the attack and around 240 were kidnapped and taken to Gaza.
“Appalled by these allegations”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that he was “appalled by these allegations”. Nine of the 12 accused employees have already been fired. Guterres nevertheless called on the countries that have suspended their aid payments to reconsider their decision. UNRWA said The New York Times told the New York Times on Sunday that two of the accused employees were dead, but that no further information could be provided while the UN's internal investigation was ongoing.
According to the report, Israeli intelligence was able to trace the movements of six of the UN employees in Israel on October 7 using their cell phones; Others were therefore overheard talking on the phone about their involvement in the attack. According to the Israeli statement, three employees received text messages asking them to report to assembly points on October 7th. One of them was also said to have been asked to bring back rocket-propelled grenades that were stored in his house.
According to Israeli information, ten of the men are said to be members of Hamas, and another is said to belong to the terrorist group Islamic Jihad. Nevertheless, seven of the accused are said to have taught as teachers at UNRWA schools in the Gaza Strip. Two others worked in other roles at the schools, while the remaining three are described in the report as clerks, social workers and warehouse managers, according to the New York Times.
After numerous Western countries, Japan also temporarily stopped its payments to the UN aid agency on Sunday because of the allegations. Financial support will not continue until further notice, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. UNRWA plays an important role in providing vital humanitarian assistance. Against this background, Japan is “extremely concerned” about the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th. The USA, Germany and France, among others, had previously stopped their payments.