The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have arrested at least eight United Nations personnel for suspected ties to Hamas, a secret document read, Maariv reported on Thursday.
All eight employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) have been arrested in the Gaza Strip and transferred to Israel, Israeli news outlets reported. report. (Related: Report: 6 military drones found by Israeli border police among UNRWA donations)
The Hebrew-language news agency said it had obtained a secret document from UNRWA to Israel requesting that the group be allowed to meet the defendants after their arrest. The arrests took place between October and February, and one of the employees was charged with participating in the October 7 massacre of a southern Israeli community by Hamas.
The report said Israeli officials had not yet responded to UNRWA’s appeal and that the investigation into the defendant’s alleged actions was still ongoing.
בשל קשר לחמאס: לפחות 8 עובדי הארגון אונר“א נעצרו ע”י כוחות צה”לhttps://t.co/KjxWQCwflw
— Оעריב אונליין (@MaarivOnline) February 22, 2024
On February 16, Israel announced the indictment of 12 UNRWA personnel who are said to have directly participated in the October 7 massacre. Some people are said to have participated in the hostage-taking.
“In addition to these 12 workers, [whose information was published]According to the Times of Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said, “Based on intelligence, more than 30 UNRWA personnel participated in the massacre, facilitated the taking of hostages, and looted and stole from the Israeli community. There are important signs that this is the case.” The minister estimated that 12 percent of UNRWA staff had ties to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
An assessment of U.S. intelligence agencies obtained by The Wall Street Journal estimates that about 10 percent of employees have such ties. “The institution is [UNRWA] The whole thing is a haven for the radical ideology of Hamas,” one Israeli official told The Wall Street Journal.
The United Nations is board to consider such claims against employees.
