Mr. Guterres has also asked UNRWA head, Philippe
Lazzarini, to refer any employees found to have taken part in or
“abetted what transpired” in the brutal attacks by Hamas and
other Palestinian militants that day, “for potential criminal
prosecution.”
“The Secretary-General is horrified by this news,” Mr. Guterres’
Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement issued on Friday
morning in New York, noting that the UN chief had been briefed on
the allegations by the UNRWA Commissioner-General.
Urgent independent review
An urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA will be
conducted, the statement added.
The UNRWA chief said information had been provided by Israeli
authorities of the alleged involvement of some agency staff
members.
“To protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian
assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate
the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation
in order to establish the truth without delay,” Mr. Lazzarini
said.
“Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be
held accountable, including through criminal prosecution,” he
added.
He reiterated UNRWA’s condemnation of the terror attacks in the
“strongest possible terms” and called again for the immediate and
unconditional release of all Israeli hostages.
Betrayal of ‘fundamental values’
“These shocking allegations come as more than two million people
in Gaza depend on lifesaving assistance that the agency has been
providing since the war began,” Mr. Lazzarini said.
“Anyone who betrays the fundamental values of the United Nations
also betrays those whom we serve in Gaza, across the region and
elsewhere around the world.”
