UN Urges Funding to Punish Staff Involved in ‘Terror’ – Reuters

By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Sunday that any U.N. employee implicated in acts of terrorism will be held accountable, following allegations that some staff members of the U.N. refugee agency were involved in the recent Hamas attacks on Israel.

Despite these allegations, Guterres urged governments to continue funding the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), after nine nations paused their financial support.

"Any U.N. employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, potentially through criminal prosecution," Guterres stated. "The Secretariat is prepared to cooperate with any competent authority to ensure due process is followed."

At the same time, he emphasized the importance of not punishing the thousands of dedicated UNRWA employees who operate in some of the world’s most dangerous environments. "The urgent needs of the vulnerable populations they assist must be addressed," he added.

In his first comments on the matter, Guterres provided details on the allegations against UNRWA staff. Among the 12 individuals implicated, he reported that nine had been terminated, one was confirmed dead, and efforts were ongoing to verify the identities of the remaining two.

Countries including Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Finland joined the United States, Australia, and Canada in suspending aid to UNRWA amidst the allegations raised by Israel.

"I understand their concerns – I was horrified by these accusations myself – but I strongly urge those governments to ensure that UNRWA’s operations can continue," Guterres appealed.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, adopted a more pointed stance, condemning the decision to suspend funding. "It is profoundly irresponsible to penalize the entire Agency and the community it serves based on allegations against a few individuals, especially during a time of conflict and political instability," he stated.

Lazzarini called on governments to reevaluate their funding suspensions, highlighting that the lives of people in Gaza depend on this support, which is crucial for regional stability.