Lazzarini: Israel yet to back up its accusations against UNRWA
5/27/2025 5:16:00 PM
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini says Israel has “continuously made unsubstantiated claims” against the UN agency, while refusing to provide evidence to back up its accusations.
“To date, UNRWA has not received any response, nor has the Government of Israel shared any sufficient evidence to back up these very serious claims,” he said on X.
The Israeli government had accused UNRWA staff of involvement in Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, and banned the agency from operating in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.
Lazzarini said on X that the claims had put the lives of its staff at risk and harmed the agency’s reputation. “The minimum requirements are sufficient evidence and due process,” he said. “The absence of both more than one year later raises the possibility that the accusations were unfounded.”
“To date, UNRWA has not received any response, nor has the Government of Israel shared any sufficient evidence to back up these very serious claims,” he said on X.
The Israeli government had accused UNRWA staff of involvement in Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, and banned the agency from operating in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel.
Lazzarini said on X that the claims had put the lives of its staff at risk and harmed the agency’s reputation. “The minimum requirements are sufficient evidence and due process,” he said. “The absence of both more than one year later raises the possibility that the accusations were unfounded.”