Following a terrorist attack by Hamas in October, which resulted in the death of around 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 more, Israel made serious allegations against UNRWA employees. Some of these employees were suspected members of the Islamic militia and were involved in the attack. In response, the UN established a commission, named after Catherine Colonna, to investigate these allegations. According to The Guardian, the commission has found insufficient evidence to support Israel’s claims and is set to publish its full report on Monday.
UNRWA itself reached out to Israel in March and April, requesting names of individuals suspected of collaboration, but received no response. Following Israel’s accusations, many international donors, including Austria, ceased their funding to UNRWA. This has been seen as a serious blow to the humanitarian situation of Palestinians who rely on UNRWA for health and education support not just in Gaza but also in the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
The Colonna Commission also addressed another accusation by Israel: that UNRWA used textbooks containing anti-Semitic propaganda written by Palestinian Authority authors. The UN report found little evidence to support this claim. However, it is worth noting that UNRWA plays a crucial role in supporting the Palestinian population and any disruption to its operations poses a threat to the well-being of those who rely on its services.
