United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday said strict actions will be taken against staff involved in the "acts of terror" after the allegations had put UNRWA in a spot.
In a major setback for the agency's operations in Gaza, world leaders including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Italy among other nations had suspended its funds. It was alleged that UN staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack.
"Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution," the UN chief said in a statement.
"The Secretariat is ready to cooperate with a competent authority able to prosecute the individuals in line with the Secretariat’s normal procedures for such cooperation," read the statement.
He also added that the tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA should not be penalised.
"While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations - I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations," Guterres said.
However, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said it is "immensely irresponsible" to sanction an Agency and an entire community it serves because of the allegations of criminal acts.
Israel's UN ambassador criticised Guterres for seeking funds from the nations which suspended it. He said, “Every country that continues to fund UNRWA before a comprehensive investigation of the organisation should know that its money might be used for terrorism, and the aid that will be transferred to UNRWA may reach the Hamas terrorists instead of the people of Gaza."
The UN Secretary-General has proven once again that the security of the citizens of Israel is not really important for him. After years in which he ignored the evidence presented to him personally about UNRWA's support and involvement in incitement and terrorism, and before he… pic.twitter.com/L8DfdUSeYG
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) January 28, 2024
Meanwhile, according to Gaza Health Ministry, Palestinian death toll rose to 26,422 on Sunday. The ministry added that 165 Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours.
Also, efforts are ongoing to de-escalate the war in Gaza. Qatar foreign ministry in a statement said it held talks with Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on finding ways to end the war.
"During the call, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and the latest developments in the war on Gaza Strip along with ways of de-escalating the situation," read the statement.
The prime minister and minister of foreign affairs affirmed Qatar’s commitment to its efforts in mediating and facilitating negotiations between Iran and western countries, including continuing to implement the recent agreement between Iran and the United States brokered by Qatar, it added.
