Israel, UN Clash Over Allegations: Terrorism, Torture

Israel has intensified its criticisms of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, alleging without proof that 450 of its workers in the Gaza Strip belong to militant groups. This accusation has led major donors to withhold substantial funding from UNRWA after Israel previously claimed 12 of its employees participated in a Hamas-led attack on October 7 that resulted in 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages, as stated by Israeli officials.

UNRWA’s head, Philippe Lazzarini, countered these allegations, stating he has never been provided with any evidence to support Israel’s claims. He noted that UNRWA annually submits a staff list to both Israel and the Palestinian Authority without receiving any complaints about its employees. Lazzarini mentioned that the agency took the allegations against the 12 staff members seriously, leading to their dismissal and the initiation of two U.N.-led investigations.

The U.N.’s envoy on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, mentioned there were credible allegations of sexual violence and torture by Hamas during the October 7 attack. This incident led to an Israeli offensive in Gaza, claiming over 30,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, and significantly displacing the population.

Israel’s military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, did not provide specifics to substantiate the claim that over 450 UNRWA employees were militants but insisted on a systematic association between UNRWA staff and militant activities.

UNRWA accused Israel of detaining several of its staff members and subjecting them to torture to obtain false confessions about connections between the agency, Hamas, and the October 7 attack. These actions, according to UNRWA, are endangering its staff and complicating its operations in Gaza and the region.

Following the initial allegations, numerous countries suspended approximately $450 million in funding to UNRWA, nearly half of its annual budget. The agency has welcomed any party with information on the allegations to contribute to the ongoing U.N. investigation.

In the meantime, discussions for a cease-fire in Gaza are taking place, even as tensions flare between Israel and Lebanon, leading to casualties on both sides. The U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein’s visit to Beirut aims to mitigate these tensions as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches.