Adnan Abu Hasene, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), told AA correspondent that Gallant’s statements are baseless allegations.
Hasene said that Israel had previously claimed that 12 employees were involved in the Al-Aqsa Flood attack launched by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Israel, but the UNRWA Commissioner General immediately took action, opened an investigation and terminated the contracts of 9 people, adding that “There is a campaign launched by Israel against UNRWA and what has been said so far consists of allegations that are not based on any facts.”
“If Israel has any information about the connections of UNRWA employees, it should submit it to the organization,” Hasene said, adding that they have submitted the names of the employees working in the regions affiliated with the agency to the state where they work, even to the Israeli side, and that they have not received any objection from Israel in this regard.
Israeli Defense Minister Gallant claimed that 12 UNRWA employees, whose identities he revealed, were involved in the October 7 attacks.
Gallant claimed that in addition to the 12 UNRWA employees, he had substantial intelligence-based evidence that more than 30 UNRWA officials were involved in the October 7 attacks.
UNRWA’s function and Israeli claims
Funded by voluntary contributions from UN member states, UNRWA has been the main organization providing humanitarian aid such as food, health, education and shelter to Palestinian refugees since its inception in 1950. The agency supports 5.9 million Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA has been providing relief to Palestinians for nearly 74 years, during which time its facilities have been repeatedly hit by Israel and tons of food and medicine destroyed.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an urgent investigation into allegations by Israeli officials that UNRWA staff were involved in the October 7 attacks.
UNRWA had also launched an investigation into Israel’s allegations.
Israel wants UNRWA to completely cease operations and leave the region.
