United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres vowed on Sunday to hold to account "any U.N. employee involved in acts of terror" after allegations that some refugee agency staffers were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
A truck, marked with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) logo, crosses into Egypt from Gaza, at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres vowed on Sunday to hold to account "any U.N. employee involved in acts of terror" after allegations that some refugee agency staffers were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
But Guterres implored governments to continue supporting the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) after nine countries paused funding.
"Any U.N. employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution," the U.N. chief said in a statement. "The Secretariat is ready to cooperate with a competent authority able to prosecute the individuals in line with the Secretariat’s normal procedures for such cooperation."
At the same time, he said, "The tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers, should not be penalized. The dire needs of the desperate populations they serve must be met."
Antonio Guterres cannot ignore that UNRWA facilities have been used by terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip for over a decade.
Furthermore, many UNRWA employees are also active militants of Hamas and other movements.
This situation is known at the UN headquarters, and many foreign intelligence agencies have documented the involvement of terrorists in the operation of UNRWA.
By Michelle Nichols and Mena Today
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef (Joe) Rajji delivered one of the most candid assessments of his country's situation in years, speaking Saturday to the French daily Le Figaro, making clear that Hezbollah is strategically finished and that Lebanon will not allow Iran to negotiate on its behalf.
Lebanon's Maronite bishops have thrown their full support behind the Lebanese state and its ongoing direct negotiations with Israel, calling on all Lebanese to unite around their national institutions and army.
The funeral for Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will begin in Tehran on July 4 and conclude with his burial in his hometown, the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, on July 9, state media reported on Saturday.
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