Independent Review Group: Israel has not provided evidence

The Independent Review Group, which conducted the investigation launched following allegations made by Israel against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has published its report on the agency.

The report states that Israel has still not provided evidence for its claims that UNRWA personnel, who provide education, health, and social services to refugees in Palestine, are linked to groups in Gaza.

The report noted, "The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that they received lists of personnel without identification numbers until March 2024. However, the March 2024 list included the employees' identification numbers. Based on this list containing identification numbers, Israel alleged that a significant number of UNRWA employees were members of Hamas. On the other hand, Israel has yet to provide any evidence to support these allegations."

"INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED WITH MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE"

In the report published by the Independent Review Group appointed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, it was stated that within the framework of the investigations into whether UNRWA implements the principle of neutrality, visits were made to the UNRWA headquarters and facilities in Amman, Jerusalem, and the West Bank, interviews were conducted with more than 200 people, including UNRWA personnel in Gaza, and direct communication was established with 47 countries and organizations.

The Independent Review Group, chaired by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, which was formed following the allegations that led to the suspension of approximately 450 million dollars in funding at the most critical time for Gaza, which is facing hunger and famine, pointed out in the report that the organization has strong mechanisms and processes, including personnel security screening and oversight, to ensure that the principle of neutrality is implemented.

The report also emphasized that the organization aims to renew its existing systems to increase transparency in its relations with donor countries and to respond more quickly to violations of neutrality, stating that the challenges UNRWA faces regarding neutrality are largely concentrated in conflict zones in Gaza and the West Bank. The report, which stated that more effective management and internal audit mechanisms are needed to strengthen UNRWA's neutrality, noted that the organization should develop a more operational reporting system and move its relations with donors to a more strategic level.

MANY COUNTRIES HAD SUSPENDED OR HALTED FUNDING

Israel had claimed that more than 450 members of UNRWA were members of groups in Gaza, and that 12 personnel were linked to the October 7 events. Following the allegations targeting UNRWA, which also provides food and clothing aid to refugees in Palestine where Israel continues to obstruct humanitarian aid despite calls from the international community, 16 member countries, including the US, the largest donor, decided to suspend or halt the funds they provided to the UN agency UNRWA.

UNRWA employs 32,000 people within the framework of its aid activities, 13,000 of whom are in Gaza.