UN fires 9 staffers over possible roles in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack

The United Nations has fired nine staff members from its agency responsible for Palestinian refugees over their possible roles in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The United Nations said in a press release Monday that its Office of Internal Oversight Services completed its investigation into 19 staff members, finding that evidence it collected indicated that nine of those staffers “may have been involved in the armed attacks” on Oct. 7.

“I have decided that in the case of these remaining nine staff members, they cannot work for UNRWA. All contracts of these staff members will be terminated in the interest of the Agency,” Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said in a statement.

The internal probe came after allegations surfaced accusing some UNRWA employees of being involved in the assault last year, where Hamas fighters killed about 1,200 in southern Israel.

The investigation also found that there was “insufficient” evidence in nine staffers’ cases to connect them with the allegations. It also concluded that there was no evidence in one staffer’s case to support allegations of their involvement.

In those remaining 10 cases, the U.N. said “appropriate measures will be taken in due course.”

The Biden administration announced in January it would be halting funds for the UNRWA over allegations that some of its staff were involved in the attacks. The Biden administration previously delivered $75 million to UNRWA in October, bypassing a long-held congressional block on the funds over criticisms of the agency.

A separate independent report found earlier this year that the UNRWA was not compromised by outside groups. It determined that the UNRWA has “a significant number of mechanisms and procedures to ensure compliance with the humanitarian principles.”

The UNRWA is responsible for providing aid and services to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by Israeli attacks since the onset of its war against Hamas. Lazzarini said in his statement Monday that the agency will continue to provide services to those in Gaza.

“The agency’s priority is to continue lifesaving and critical services for Palestine refugees in Gaza and across the region, especially in the face of the ongoing war, the instability and risk of regional escalation,” he said.