October 7 victims sue UNRWA for $1 billion, claiming it aided and abetted Hamas
Lawsuit, filed in New York, alleges UN Palestinian aid agency’s compliance in letting terror group use its facilities, says payment of its workers in US dollars helped fund Hamas
Separately Monday, UNRWA Director Lazzarini called to push back against efforts by Israel to have the organization disbanded.
“Israel has long been critical of the agency’s mandate. But it now seeks to end UNRWA’s operations, dismissing the agency’s status as a United Nations entity supported by an overwhelming majority of member states,” Lazzarini said at a meeting of the agency’s advisory commission.
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“If we do not push back, other UN entities and international organizations will be next, further undermining our multilateral system.”
Israel has also accused UNRWA, the largest employer in the Palestinian territories, of turning a blind eye to Hamas activities and employees of actively aiding terror groups.
In February, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant claimedthat of the 13,000 UNRWA employees in Gaza, at least 12 per cent were affiliated with the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terror groups, including 1,468 employees active in Hamas and PIJ. Of those, 185 UNRWA workers were active in the military branches of Hamas, and 51 in the PIJ military branch, he said.
Gallant also alleged that at least 12 UNRWA employees took an active part in the October 7 massacre and that at least 30 more assisted by facilitating the taking of hostages and looting from Israeli communities overrun by Hamas terrorists.
The IDF, which launched an offensive against Hamas following October 7, has also uncovered several tunnels running under UNRWA compounds in Gaza and documented terror operatives in UN facilities. It also uncovered a Hamas data centreunder the UNRWA headquartersin Gaza City.
Numerous reports have found that UNRWA schools and teachers continue to teach hatred of Jews and glorify terrorism.
Israel’s accusations prompted many governments, including top donor the United States, to suspend funding to the agency, threatening its efforts to deliver aid in Gaza.
An independent review of UNRWA, led by French former foreign minister Catherine Colonna, found some “neutrality-related issues,” but said Israel had yet to provide evidence for its main allegations.
Some governments, including Italy, Germany, and Austria have resumed their funding.
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