Investigations into an extra three instances have been suspended due to inadequate proof offered by Israel, he mentioned, and eight instances stay beneath investigation by the U.N. Workplace of Inner Oversight Companies.
Since Israel made its preliminary costs in January — prompting main donors, together with america, to droop assist for the U.N. Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees within the Close to East (UNRWA) — it has made allegations about seven extra UNRWA staffers, Dujarric mentioned. These included 5 in March and two in April. Of these, an investigation into one “has additionally been suspended pending receipt of extra supporting proof,” Dujarric mentioned. “The remaining six of these instances are at the moment beneath investigation.”
Investigators with the U.N. Workplace of Inner Oversight Companies traveled to Israel to satisfy with Israeli authorities and are anticipated to journey once more in Might, Dujarric mentioned.
The entire preliminary 12 help employees have been instantly fired by UNRWA, though two have been reported to have been killed throughout preventing in Gaza. Of these instances, the United Nations is contemplating what administrative motion to soak up the one case that has been cleared and the three during which investigations have been suspended. The staff concerned within the seven new instances have been positioned on administrative depart with out pay.
Israel has lengthy known as for UNRWA to be dismantled, saying that Palestinians displaced many years in the past by the institution of the state of Israel and their descendants shouldn’t be thought-about refugees. At varied factors because the October assaults, Israel has publicly said that a lot of UNRWA’s 13,000 staffers in Gaza — practically all of whom are Palestinians — have ties to Hamas and different militant teams.
In line with an impartial evaluation of UNRWA’s procedures to make sure neutrality amongst its staff that was launched earlier this week, Israel has not offered proof that vital numbers of employees of the help company have hyperlinks to those teams.
A variety of governments had already reversed their preliminary suspension of funding to the company, and extra adopted after the report — which was led by former French overseas minister Catherine Colonna — basically offered a clear invoice of well being for the group, together with suggestions for enchancment.
The U.S. intelligence neighborhood didn’t doubt, however couldn’t confirm, Israel’s claims about UNRWA employees on Oct. 7, U.S. officers advised The Washington Put up in February, citing an absence of impartial info.
In response to the Colonna report, Israel once more alleged — with out offering proof — that greater than 2,135 UNRWA employees belong to both Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and that “one-fifth of UNRWA college directors are Hamas members.”
The Biden administration has known as UNRWA “indispensable” for the availability of humanitarian help in Gaza, however all U.S. assist was barred till March 2025 in a funding invoice handed by Congress final month. America has lengthy been the biggest donor to UNRWA, offering practically half of its funds.
Right here’s what else to know
- U.S. nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned there may be “new momentum, new life” to the hostage and cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas. His remarks to MSNBC got here as an Egyptian delegation visited Israel after the Israeli conflict cupboard met to debate hostage deal negotiations, and as Hamas mentioned it was reviewing the newest provide from Israel.
- Washington has not determined whether or not to chop help to an Israeli navy unit accused of human rights violations, in response to two individuals aware of the matter, who spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate the negotiations. The anticipated resolution is the topic of main tensions with Israel. The Netzah Yehuda battalion, consisting of ultra-Orthodox troopers, has been the topic of accusations of abuse towards Palestinians since earlier than the conflict in Gaza, in response to Israeli media studies.
- U.N. officers have acquired studies that at the very least two youngsters have died as a consequence of excessive warmth in Gaza, UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini mentioned in a assertion. Gaza has been experiencing an uncommon warmth wave, with temperatures hovering round 104 levels Fahrenheit, in response to the United Nations.
- A untimely Palestinian child, delivered by way of emergency Caesarean part after her mom was fatally wounded, has died in Gaza after 5 days in an incubator, the Related Press reported. Sabreen Jouda died in a Gaza hospital after her well being deteriorated, her uncle advised the AP. Medical doctors operated to avoid wasting Sabreen after her mother and father — together with her mom, who was seven months pregnant — and sister have been killed final week in an Israeli airstrike, The Put up reported.
- A minimum of 34,356 individuals have been killed and 77,368 injured in Gaza because the conflict started, in response to the Gaza Well being Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants however says nearly all of the useless are ladies and kids. Israel estimates that about 1,200 individuals have been killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 assault, together with greater than 300 troopers, and says 261 troopers have been killed since its navy operation in Gaza started.
Claire Parker contributed to this report.
