Former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna is to lead an independent group of experts to examine serious allegations against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The 67-year-old will work with experts from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Sweden, the Michelsen Institute in Norway and the Danish Institute for Human Rights, the United Nations said. The group is scheduled to start work on February 14th. An interim report is planned for the end of March.
Some employees of the aid organization are accused of being involved in the terrorist acts carried out by the Islamist Hamas on October 7th in Israel. Several Western countries temporarily suspended payments to UNRWA because of the allegations, including the two largest donors, the United States and Germany. UN Secretary General António Guterres promised comprehensive information. The collaboration with several employees has been terminated.
The expert group is expected to discuss the extent to which UNRWA has complied with or violated measures to maintain neutrality. Suggestions for improvements and changes can also be made. International donors such as the USA are calling for fundamental reforms. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed the establishment of the committee: “We will present all evidence that demonstrates UNRWA’s links to terrorism and its harmful effects on regional stability.” At the same time as the Colonna investigation, there is a second, internal review by the United Nations Nations. This specifically deals with the allegations against employees of the UN aid agency. According to reports, it will last several weeks.
