ISRAEL ACCUSES UNRWA OF BIAS
Israel has alleged that some UNRWA staff were members of the Palestinian militant group Hamas and took part in the attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, that killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to Israel‘s war against Hamas, in which Gaza authorities say more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed.
UNRWA has fired several staff members but said Israel had not provided evidence for all the allegations against its staff.
In his statement, Lazzarini said that Israel had conducted “a large-scale disinformation campaign” against UNRWA.
The Israeli foreign ministry said “the seizure of this compound by Israeli authorities was carried out in accordance with both Israeli and international law.”
Israel‘s Jerusalem municipality raided the compound last year, saying UNRWA had failed to pay property taxes after multiple warnings. UNRWA said the agency had no debts to the municipality.
The agency operates in East Jerusalem, which the UN and most countries consider territory occupied by Israel. Israel considers all Jerusalem to be part of the country.
UNRWA also operates in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere in the Middle East, providing schooling, healthcare, social services and shelter to millions of Palestinians.