The UN agency providing assistance to Palestinians announced the dismissal of 70 employees in the Gaza Strip

According to the statement of the Acting Head of BAPO, the agency repeatedly contacted the Israeli authorities with a request to provide information and evidence confirmingAccusations made against individual employees, however, no response has been received to date. BAPOR emphasizes that dismissal is not part of disciplinary proceedings and in no way confirms the validity of the accusations made.

As noted in the statement, the decision was made in the interest of the agency in accordance with its regulatory and legal framework. Its purpose is to reduce risks to the safety of Palestinian refugees, whom UNRWA assists within the scope of its mandate, as well as for the agency’s personnel and facilities.

BAPO reminded that, like other UN structures, the agency does not have its own police or intelligence capabilities and is forced to rely on cooperation with member states, including Israel as an occupying power, to ensure the security of its activities and compliance with the principle of neutrality in a high-risk situation in the occupied Palestinian territory.

The agency again called to ensure the protection of employees of BAPO, other humanitarian workers, and civilians, to respect the neutral status of humanitarian organizations, and to hold accountable those responsible for violations of international law in the zone of the conflict.