Nine UNRWA Staff to be Fired Over Alleged Involvement in Hamas Attack

Nine employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees may have been involved in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. An internal investigation led to their potential termination. Accusations from Israel prompted the United Nations to investigate UNRWA staff's alleged involvement in terrorist activities.

Nine employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNWRA) are suspected of involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, leading to their dismissal, according to a U.N. announcement on Monday.

Deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq cited findings from the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services, which investigated claims involving 19 UNRWA staff members. Evidence was sufficient to suggest involvement for nine of them, all men.

The United Nations initiated the probe following Israel's allegations that 12 UNRWA staff participated in the Hamas-led attack, which incited the Gaza war. Claims from March further accused over 450 UNRWA staff of being military operatives within Gaza terrorist groups.