UN investigator Catherine Colonna touched down in Israel today to review evidence United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) employees collaborated with Hamas on Oct 7.
During her visit, Colonna will meet with Kobi Blitstein, the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be briefed on the extent of Hamas’s encroachment within the UN relief agency. The misuse of UNRWA facilities for weapon storage and as launch sites for rockets against Israel, as well as the employment of UNRWA workers affiliated with Hamas is expected to be reviewed.
The briefings will also cover the issue of tunnels and other terror infrastructure located within or near UNRWA properties, and the longstanding problem of anti-Israel and antisemitic indoctrination in UNRWA’s schools and summer camp programs.
The former Foreign Minister of France is expected to deliver an interim report by the end of March, followed by a final report one month later.
Kan News reports that Israel is seeking to dismantle the UNRWA site in the Gaza Strip and replace it with an alternative body. Efforts are underway by Israel to collaborate with Gaza-based humanitarian organizations, including the UN World Food Program.
