The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has reported the dismissal of more staff members following an internal investigation into their alleged connection to the Hamas-led attack against Israel on October 7. This decision comes after the agency previously terminated 12 employees and placed seven on unpaid leave in response to similar claims.

The UN Secretary-General's office announced the dismissals in a brief statement, without providing specific details regarding the staff members' involvement or the evidence procured. Juliette Touma, the Communications Director for UNRWA, explained that the group of nine fired individuals included members from both the previously terminated and suspended staff. No official count of the total number of dismissals has been disclosed.

Israel first accused 12 UNRWA employees of participating in the October attack, which resulted in the death of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 250 others. These allegations led donor countries to temporarily suspend funding for UNRWA, causing a significant funding shortfall of approximately $450 million. However, with the exception of the United States, all donor countries have since agreed to resume their financial support.

In response to the recent dismissals, Oren Marmorstein, the spokesperson for Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called for donor countries to once again suspend funding, citing concerns that the funds may be used for supporting terrorist activities. Marmorstein further argued that UNRWA exacerbates the conflict and suggested the implementation of alternative agencies.

The investigation into UNRWA was conducted by the Office of Internal Oversight Services, the UN's internal watchdog. The watchdog utilized evidence provided by Israeli authorities during their discussions, although they were unable to independently verify the evidence due to limited access. The investigators examined internal records, including staff information, emails, and communications data, ultimately finding sufficient evidence to implicate the nine employees in the October 7 attack.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, stated that the agency's priority is to continue providing crucial services to Palestinian refugees despite the ongoing war and regional turmoil. Lazzarini condemned the October attack while emphasizing the importance of protecting and assisting vulnerable populations.

Throughout the 10-month-long conflict in Gaza, UNRWA has been the primary agency responsible for delivering aid to Palestinians. The war has caused immense destruction, with over 39,600 reported casualties and a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel has intensified its calls for UNRWA's closure, accusing the agency of collaborating with Hamas and ignoring the group's activities. Israel has shared evidence of tunnels near UNRWA facilities and alleged that more employees are linked to militant groups beyond those who have been dismissed.

UNRWA has consistently denied collaborating with Hamas, and the agency itself has suffered significant losses during the conflict. Over 200 UNRWA staff members have been killed, and 190 agency installations have been damaged, including schools that have been converted into shelters for displaced Palestinians.