Israel Demands UNRWA Terminate 100 Terrorist-Linked Employees Amidst Rising Security Concerns

Israel Demands UNRWA Terminate 100 Terrorist-Linked Employees Amidst Rising Security Concerns

Edited by: Fern Sidman

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal demand to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to immediately terminate the employment of 100 staff members allegedly linked to terrorist organizations, according to the information provided in a Fox News Digital report that appeared on Thursday. This move follows revelations about the extent of infiltration by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives within the agency.

Israel has repeatedly provided substantial evidence, including photographs, videos, and documents, proving that Hamas terrorists have been employed within UNRWA. This evidence has been acknowledged by UNRWA, with the agency previously accepting the authenticity of the information.

In a letter dated July 4, Ambassador Amir Weissbrod conveyed Israel’s urgent request to UNRWA, highlighting longstanding concerns about the presence of Hamas terrorists within the organization. The letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, emphasizes the gravity of the situation, which was starkly illuminated following the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel. Weissbrod stated that during this attack, UNRWA employees were found to have actively participated, thereby confirming fears of terrorist infiltration.

Weissbrod’s letter provided detailed information about the extent of the infiltration, revealing that hundreds of Hamas and PIJ members have been employed by UNRWA in the Gaza Strip. The Fox News Digital report said that some of these individuals hold high-ranking positions either within UNRWA or directly within Hamas. This infiltration, according to Weissbrod, poses a significant security threat to Israel and compromises the principle of neutrality that UNRWA is expected to uphold.

To substantiate these claims, the letter included a document listing 100 names and IDs of individuals identified as terrorist operatives currently employed by UNRWA-Gaza. The document also provided their military IDs, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations. As per the information contained in the Fox News Digital report, Weissbrod indicated that this list represents only a small fraction of the terrorists employed by UNRWA and promised that additional names would be disclosed in future communications.

Weissbrod’s letter made it clear that Israel expects UNRWA to take swift action by terminating the employment of any Hamas or PIJ members. He stressed that their continued presence within the organization not only poses a direct security risk to Israel but also violates the principle of neutrality, as highlighted in Ms. Colonna’s report, as was affirmed in the Fox News Digital report. The ambassador’s communication calls attention to Israel’s stance that allowing these individuals to work within UNRWA is unacceptable and demands immediate rectification.

In January, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini responded to the revelations by terminating the contracts of staff members involved in the October 7 attacks on Israel. As was reported by Fox News Digital, Lazzarini emphasized the agency’s commitment to accountability and announced the launch of an investigation to establish the truth swiftly. “To protect the Agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay,” he stated, as was noted in the Fox News Digital report. He also assured that any UNRWA employee involved in acts of terror would be held accountable, potentially through criminal prosecution.

Despite these actions, Lazzarini has recently defended UNRWA against Israeli criticism. During a United Nations meeting in Geneva, he expressed that the agency is under immense pressure due to relentless attacks. “Israel has long been critical of the agency’s mandate. But it now seeks to end UNRWA’s operations, dismissing the agency’s status as a United Nations entity supported by an overwhelming majority of member states,” Lazzarini said, according to the Fox News Digital report. He warned that without resistance to these criticisms, other U.N. entities and international organizations might also come under similar attacks, undermining the multilateral system.

The Israeli government’s insistence on addressing the terrorist infiltration within UNRWA has significant implications for the agency and its operations. By sharing the list of terrorist operatives with major donors, Israel seeks to ensure that financial support for UNRWA is contingent upon the agency’s ability to maintain a neutral and secure workforce, as was explained in The Fox News Digital report. This move could influence donor countries’ decisions and potentially impact the funding and functioning of UNRWA.