Horrified by Allegations Implicating UN Staff in 7 October Terror Attacks in Israel, Secretary-General Orders Investigation, Termination of Staff Found to Be Involved

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General has been briefed by the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, regarding extremely serious allegations which implicate several UNRWA staff members in the terror attacks of 7 October in Israel.

The Secretary-General is horrified by this news and has asked Mr. Lazzarini to investigate this matter swiftly and to ensure that any UNRWA employee shown to have participated or abetted what transpired on 7 October, or in any other criminal activity, be terminated immediately and referred for potential criminal prosecution.

UNRWA will be commissioning an independent expert review, as announced by Commissioner-General Lazzarini on 17 January 2024.