Sky Information has seen Israeli intelligence paperwork that Israel claims is proof that workers working for a UN company have been linked with Hamas within the Gaza Strip.
The report, which has been shared with overseas governments, alleges that six staff of the UN Reduction and Works Company for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) infiltrated Israel. 4 of them have been allegedly concerned in kidnapping Israelis, whereas one other employee is claimed to have supplied “logistics assist”.
Additional claims embody accusations that “out of approx. 12,000 UNRWA staff in GS [Gaza Strip], about 10% are Hamas/PIJ [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] operatives and about 50% are first-degree family with a Hamas operative”.
Critics of Israel’s actions say the variety of workers allegedly concerned is a tiny share of the company’s total workforce, and the decision by governments to suspend funding in response to the claims is a merciless and disproportionate transfer.
The Norwegian Refugee Council mentioned it was “outraged” at overseas governments for pausing donations.
It mentioned in an announcement: “We’re shocked by the reckless choice to chop a lifeline for a whole inhabitants by among the very nations that had known as for help in Gaza to be stepped up and for humanitarians to be protected whereas doing their job.”
Center East newest: Hamas responds to hostage deal
The Israeli intelligence report additionally claims UNRWA is compelled “to behave beneath the authorisation and supervision of Hamas” and “it seems that UNRWA is aiding Hamas with securing humanitarian help that’s transferred to GS”.
It provides: “Following Hamas’s request, throughout Swords of Iron [the Israeli name for its military action in Gaza], UNRWA transferred gas to north GS.”
Israel has lengthy claimed that Hamas fighters have used UNWRA services to cover and retailer weapons, together with in faculties and hospitals, and dug tunnels beneath the company’s buildings, generally with its information.
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
‘Collective punishment’
UNRWA was established in 1949 to offer help and safety for Palestinian refugees. It’s funded nearly completely by voluntary donations.
In observe, the company runs faculties, well being companies and refugee camps – however not simply in Gaza. It additionally operates in east Jerusalem and the West Financial institution, in addition to elements of Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.
It supplies training to greater than 544,000 youngsters throughout 706 faculties, a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in loans for small companies and job creation, and healthcare assist for greater than seven million visits by sufferers yearly.
They may all be affected by the suspension of funding, which critics have described as a type of “collective punishment”.
Learn extra from Sky Information:
Why has South Africa accused Israel of genocide?
What are UNRWA workers in Gaza accused of?
The Israeli intelligence paperwork make a number of claims that Sky Information has not seen proof of and lots of the claims, even when true, don’t immediately implicate UNRWA.
Following the allegations, a lot of nations, together with the US, UK, Germany, Japan, and Australia, suspended funding to the agency pending additional investigation.
‘Dying sentence for hundreds of thousands’
Responding to the developments, UNRWA’s commissioner normal Phillippe Lazzarini mentioned final week he had instantly terminated the contracts of the accused workers and ordered an investigation.
He mentioned: “Any UNRWA worker who was concerned in acts of terror will likely be held accountable, together with by means of prison prosecution.
“UNRWA reiterates its condemnation within the strongest potential phrases of the abhorrent assaults of seven October and requires the rapid and unconditional launch of all Israeli hostages and their protected return to their households.”
Philippe Lazzarini talking to Sky Information final 12 months
UNRWA additionally mentioned it shares the listing of all its workers with host nations yearly, together with Israel.
“The company by no means acquired any issues on particular workers members,” it added.
The transfer to chop funding has been severely criticised by different help organisations. Motion Support mentioned it “spells a dying sentence for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and the encompassing areas.”
UNRWA has paid a heavy value throughout the battle – 152 of its workers have been killed in Gaza and 145 of its services have been broken.