An independent review has found that Israel has failed to provide any evidence to support its claims that hundreds of UNRWA staff are members of terrorist groups. The review, led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, stated that Israel has not raised concerns about any UNRWA staff members since 2011.
The 48-page report highlighted UNRWA’s robust procedures to maintain neutrality and revealed that the agency routinely shares staff lists with host countries. However, the report did identify some gaps in implementing the neutrality policy, such as staff publicly expressing political views.
The review was prompted by Israeli allegations that a dozen UNRWA employees had participated in a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. Following these claims, around 15 countries, including Germany, Italy, and Austria, suspended funding to the agency, causing serious humanitarian challenges for the 2.3 million people in Gaza.
Despite the funding cuts, most donor countries have since resumed their support for UNRWA. The report emphasized the critical role of the agency in providing essential services to Palestinians, describing it as “irreplaceable and indispensable.”
Colonna stressed the importance of international support for UNRWA in addressing neutrality issues and providing humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza. She highlighted the agency’s vital role in the current humanitarian response in Gaza, especially in the absence of a political solution.