The UN launches an investigation into allegations of links between its personnel and Hamas

2024-01-28 16:38:21, Kosova & Bota CNA

The United Nations Secretary-General called for the resumption of funding for the main aid agency in the Gaza Strip. The United States, Britain and several other Western countries suspended funding amid suspicions that 12 agency employees participated in the attack that sparked the Israel-Hamas war. Mr. Guterres announced the launch of an investigation related to this issue while emphasizing that the persons involved will be held responsible. Meanwhile, two senior officials of President Biden's administration announced that American negotiators were making progress toward a possible cease-fire agreement.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced on Sunday that the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services had launched an investigation into allegations that 12 staff members of the Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, were involved in terrorist attacks in Hamas in Israel on October 7.

In the statement of Mr. Guterres, it was said that "the General Commissioner of this agency, Philippe Lazzarini, had terminated the contracts for nine of the people who are suspected to have been involved, another one, according to him, has been confirmed dead and work is being done to identify two other people".

Likewise, Mr. Guterres called on countries that have suspended funding for this agency to continue their contributions to the 2 million civilians in Gaza who depend on this aid to survive.

So far, nine countries including the United States and Britain have cut funding to the agency. Together, they provided about 60% of the agency's budget in 2022. The Israeli foreign minister called for more countries to cut aid to the agency.

Meanwhile, right-wing Israeli demonstrators, along with family members of hostages held in Gaza staged a protest on the Israeli side of the Kerem Shalom crossing in an attempt to block the passage of aid trucks into the Gaza Strip.

Israeli police managed to keep them at bay and allowed some of the trucks to pass for the first time in days.

As a result of the conflict in Gaza, more than 26,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health ministry officials run by the militant group. The war started after a terrorist attack by Hamsi on October 7 last year, as a result of which around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. Similarly, the militants took about 250 people as hostages.

Two senior officials in President Biden's administration said US negotiators were making progress on a possible deal under which Israel would halt military operations against Hamas for two months and allow more humanitarian aid in exchange for the release of more more than 100 hostages remaining. If reached, the deal would be implemented in two phases, according to people familiar with the matter.

Despite the apparent progress in this direction, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated in a press conference that the war will continue until his country's "complete victory" over Hamas. / VOA