No proof on Israel's accusations towards UN company in Palestine, impartial report says | EUROtoday

It occurred in January. More than a dozen international locations withdrew their funding to the UN help company in Palestinegenerally known as UNRWAafter Israel accused a few of its personnel of collaborating within the assault of Hamas on October 7. Four months later, the previous French Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonnapublishes in an impartial investigation that, to at the present time, Israel has not offered a single piece of proof to help its accusations.

“Israel made public the claim that a significant number of UNRWA employees are members of terrorist organizations,” says its report, revealed this Monday. “However, Israel has yet to provide evidence to support this,” the doc warns.

Colonna's investigation is an try to judge the neutrality of the company's HIM after Israel's accusations and was ready with the assistance of three analysis institutes from Nordic international locations. “Till the date, Israeli authorities have not provided any evidence or responded to letters from UNRWA in March or April, requesting the names and supporting evidence that would allow UNRWA to open an investigation,” the report states.

Colonna describes that the humanitarian company had periodically offered Israel with an inventory of its workers for scrutiny and that Tel Aviv “had not informed UNRWA of any concerns related to its personnel.”

The lack of proof to help the Israeli accusations has raised questions in regards to the fast determination by some donor international locations to limit their funding to the physique. This measure happens at a time of a critical humanitarian emergency for the Gaza Strip and the remainder of the Palestinian territoriesafter nearly seven months of struggle and the Israeli blockade on the entry of meals and medical provides.

Since October 7, round Two million Palestinians have been displaced by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, whereas famine grows within the north and south of the enclave. UNRWA has been offering meals, medical and academic help to the Strip for years. Although most donor international locations progressively resumed their financing, United Kingdom y USA They haven’t but resumed contact with the humanitarian company.

Colonna's investigation highlights that UNRWA is “irreplaceable and indispensable for the human and economic development of the Palestinians” and referred to as the group “humanitarian lifeguard” within the present circumstances suffered by the Palestinian territories. “In the absence of a political solution between Israel and the Palestinians, UNRWA remains instrumental in providing life-saving humanitarian aid and essential social services, particularly in health and education, to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon,Syria y West Bank“says the report.

Following its publication, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres – who has additionally been accused by Israel of supporting Hamas – made a “call on all parties” to proceed actively supporting UNRWA, which he described as “lifeline for Palestinian refugees in the region”.

Colonna's report additionally suggests formulation for enhance neutrality of the greater than 32,000 workers of the humanitarian company, reminiscent of develop inside oversight or get nearer to donors to indicate transparency. However, Colonna emphasizes that UNRWA is a extra clear group than different related UN entities.