According to the newspaper report, which says it reviewed “reports” on the issue, an estimated 10 percent of UNRWA’s approximately 12,000 workers in the Gaza Strip have ties to either Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Israel’s intelligence agency believes the extent of ties between UNRWA workers and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas is far greater than was known at this stage. , the American newspaper Wall Street Journal reported yesterday Monday.
According to the newspaper report, which says it examined “reports” on the issue, it is estimated that about 10% of the approximately 12,000 employees of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip has ties to either Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihadanother Hamas-allied Islamist movement, not counting the twelve that Israeli authorities say were involved — all six allegedly took part — in the October 7 attack.
The accusations by the Israeli authorities caused an outcry in the West. A dozen countries, including the US, Britain, Germany and France, have announced the suspension of their funding to the agency amid a devastating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, despite calls from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for guarantees that it would able to continue its mission.
“We went from ‘it’s only 12 bad apples’ to ‘oops, we forgot two zeroes, it’s 1,200 bad apples’ in a very short time. Believe me, there are a lot more,” Israeli government spokesman Elon Levi said late last night via X (the former Twitter).
Mr. Levy accused UNRWA of offering safe haven to people who are obsessed with the “ideology” of Hamas.
According to the Journal’s report, the US government has now been informed of the findings of Israel’s intelligence agency.
Of the 12 UNRWA workers reported to have been involved in the October 7 attack, seven are said to be teachers who worked in primary or secondary schools —two taught mathematics and two others the Arabic language—always according to the newspaper’s publication.
The United Nations established UNRWA in 1949 to provide aid to Palestinian refugees.
According to the UN, it currently provides services to approximately 5.9 million people worldwide. This number includes people who were expelled or left their lands, as well as their descendants.
In total, UNRWA employs over 30,000 people, the majority of them Palestinians, 13,000 of them in the Gaza Strip. Provides services to Palestinian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.
Source :Skai
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