The United States has temporarily suspended funding to the UN organization because of the incident.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) said on Friday that it had dismissed several employees whom Israel has accused of participating in the October attack on Israel by the extremist organization Hamas.
of the Director of UNRWA by Philippe Lazzarin according to the decision was made so that the organization’s ability to deliver humanitarian aid can be secured.
– Every UNRWA employee who participated in acts of terrorism will be held accountable, including through criminal charges, he said.
Lazzarini said Israel had provided information about the alleged involvement of the workers.
Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres is “appalled” by the allegations and UNRWA is undergoing an urgent and comprehensive impartial review, Guterres’ spokesman said Stephane Dujarric.
After the dismissals of the workers, the United States announced that it would suspend funding to UNRWA.
According to the US State Department, twelve employees of the organization may have participated in the attack. The United States was the largest bilateral donor to UNRWA in 2022. At that time, it donated more than $340 million to the organization.
According to UNRWA, there are currently more than 2 million refugees in Gaza in need of humanitarian assistance. The UN agency has stated that its ability to help Gaza refugees is at the point of collapse.
Israel has repeatedly accused the organization of being anti-Israel, which UNRWA has denied.
The Gaza war began after Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and took about 250 hostages in a terror attack.
According to the Ministry of Health under Hamas, more than 26,000 Palestinians have already died in Gaza during the war.