24 April 2024

In Feb, UN Sec General Antonio Guterres appoints independent UNRWA review panel. It was led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, working with three research organizations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Yesterday, the report they issued was made public and the media began reporting on its findings.

Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur oPt @FranceskAlbs

24 April 2024

I salute @MinColonna and the technical experts who authored the report on #UNRWA‘s #neutrality. Main takeways from this expert assessment:

1. UNRWA’s existing neutrality policies are robust, surpassing those of similar entities, with effective control mechanisms to address neutrality concerns.

2. Israel’s claims that a large number of UNRWA employees are members of “terrorist organizations”, remains unsubstantiated. (This raises questions about accountability for the damage inflicted on UNRWA at the most critical time, and particularly on Palestinians in Gaza).

3. UNRWA’s neutrality challenges stem from the operational, political and security environment in which it operates. (Improvements are always possible and sometimes necessary. In UNRWA’s case this requires addressing the root causes, including the longstanding occupation of our times, and enabling Palestinian refugees to exercise their fundamental rights including to freedom and dignity. The persistent violence against the Palestinians creates the conditions to undermine UNRWA’s neutrality).

4. Till a political solution is achieved, UNRWA remains irreplaceable.

Philippe Lazzarini @UNLazzarini

The report notes that UNRWA “possesses a more developed approach to neutrality than other similar U.N. or NGOs entities”. We can however improve. I welcome the recommendations that will make our systems even more robust.

24 April: media finally reporting that there is no evidence that UNRWA was involved in attacks

24 April: Report on #UNRWA calls out #Israeli occupiers ” subterfuge” ” What we do not see is any evidence that the allegations made by #Israel ( Occupied Palestine ) regarding @UNRWA and its staff have any credibility. ” Says Daniel Levy, President of the US-Middle East project.

The report

https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/03/1147796

The review follows serious allegations regarding the alleged involvement of UNRWA staff in the 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas, which are being investigated by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).

The independent review group presented the interim report findings and recommendations to the Secretary-General on Tuesday.

“It has found that UNRWA has in place a significant number of mechanisms and procedures to ensure compliance with the Humanitarian Principle of neutrality, and the group has also identified critical areas that still need to be addressed,” the note said.

The review group will now develop concrete and realistic recommendations on how to address these critical areas to strengthen and improve the agency.

The Secretary-General will officially receive the interim report later on Wednesday. The final version will be presented on 20 April and will be made public.

Mr. Guterres appointed the panel in February, in consultation with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.

It is led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, working with three research organizations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.