International Courant
HAMILTON, Canada
“Israel has but to offer proof” for its terror-link allegations towards personnel of the UN Palestine Refugee Company (UNRWA), an unbiased overview group revealed Monday.
A report, carried out by the Impartial Investigative Group, concerned intensive area visits and engagement with numerous stakeholders throughout areas of operation.
The group led by former French International Minister Catherine Colonna commenced its work on Feb. 13, and make clear the investigation into UNRWA’s adherence to the precept of neutrality.
Saying that UNRWA has carried out quite a few mechanisms and procedures to uphold humanitarian rules, the report significantly emphasised the company’s neutrality.
With roughly 32,000 personnel, of whom 0.8% are worldwide and 99.2% are native workers, the report mentioned that the company’s method to neutrality was discovered to be extra developed in comparison with comparable worldwide organizations.
The investigation included area visits to UNRWA headquarters in Amman, Jerusalem, and the West Financial institution, in addition to engagements with UNRWA officers, donor international locations, host international locations, and UN businesses.
The group carried out greater than 200 conferences and interviews with representatives from 47 international locations and organizations.
It highlights the difficult operational setting UNRWA operates in, amidst “recurring conflicts, violence, an absence of political progress, poor socioeconomic circumstances and the proliferation of armed teams.”
Addressing the allegations by Israel relating to UNRWA workers’ alleged ties to terrorist organizations, the report famous the absence of supporting proof.
“On the premise of the March 2024 record, which contained Palestinian ID numbers, Israel made public claims {that a} important variety of UNRWA workers are members of terrorist organizations. Nonetheless, Israel has but to offer supporting proof of this,” it mentioned.
In response to the allegations, a number of UN member state donors suspended or paused funding, amounting to roughly $450 million, the report mentioned, including that initiatives undertaken by UNRWA have led to the resumption of funding from some states.
Emphasizing the significance of reinforcing UNRWA’s current neutrality mechanisms and procedures, the report mentioned: “Member States requested extra data on what had occurred in addition to a reinforcement of UNRWA’s current neutrality mechanisms and procedures, together with workers vetting and oversight.”
Stating that UNRWA maintains a vetting system to display screen workers and personnel, with common sharing of workers lists with host international locations and Israel, the report mentioned, regardless of these measures, “the Israeli Authorities has not knowledgeable UNRWA of any considerations referring to any UNRWA workers primarily based on these workers lists since 2011.”
The findings underscore the essential function UNRWA performs in delivering important humanitarian help and social providers amidst ongoing conflicts and difficult socio-political contexts.
“Within the absence of a political answer between Israel and the Palestinians, UNRWA stays pivotal in offering life-saving humanitarian help and important social providers, significantly in well being and schooling, to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Financial institution,” it added.
In a written assertion, UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres welcomed the suggestions made by Colonna, the top of the Impartial Investigative Group.
“He (Guterres) has agreed with Commissioner Normal Philippe Lazzarini that UNRWA, with the Secretary-Normal’s help, will set up an motion plan to implement the suggestions contained within the Last Report,” a press release mentioned.
The UN chief additionally expressed confidence within the collaboration of donors and host international locations to help UNRWA, which is a crucial lifeline for Palestinians within the area.
UNRWA has been hindered from doing its job since January when Israel accused a handful of its hundreds of workers of being concerned within the Hamas assaults on Israel.
Amid a probe of the claims, a number of international locations have lower off funding to the company, and its help work for Gaza’s famine-stricken inhabitants has suffered.
Not less than 18 international locations initially suspended funding to the company amid the allegations.
UNRWA was created by the UN Normal Meeting greater than 70 years in the past to help Palestinians who had been forcibly displaced from their land.
The company gives essential help to tens of millions of Palestinian refugees within the Gaza Strip, West Financial institution, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and different areas the place massive numbers of registered Palestinians reside.
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