Israel says October 7 report on UN panel's role is 'flawed'

An Israeli pays tribute to a wall with photographs of people killed and kidnapped on October 7. Photo: REUTERS

Israel has complained that the UN's interim report on whether its personnel took part in the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre contains only «cosmetic» changes to the group's structure, according to a letter seen by The Telegraph.< /p>

In a letter, Amir Weisbrod: Israel's Deputy Director General for UN and International Organizations expressed concern about the findings of a UN-appointed review team that is investigating allegations against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a subsidiary group working in the Gaza Strip. /p>

The report will be published on Monday.

Mr. Weisbrod wrote that the interim report made “positive and accurate observations” about UNRWA’s “fundamental shortcomings.” He said he could not offer concrete and realistic solutions to the problems of violations of neutrality, incitement in UNRWA schools and Hamas' use of its facilities.

Instead, Israel argues, the review panel's recommendations focus on «minor cosmetic changes and reforms to the organization's structure, [such as] increasing budget and human resources to ensure UNRWA's neutrality, providing staff training, expanding dialogue with donors, and adding internal resources.» . verification.”

The verification team was created in early February following the suspension of 12 UNRWA employees whom Israel accused of participating in the October 7 massacre. A security camera captured an employee kidnapping an Israeli at Kibbutz Be'eri that day.

Israel has since provided what it says is further evidence of links between 2,135 UNRWA staff and terrorist groups such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas, as well as detailed information about Hamas tunnels under UNRWA's main headquarters in the Gaza Strip. The allegations and the dismissal of UNRWA staff have led several countries to freeze the agency's funds, including Britain, which is among the largest donors.

When approached for comment, an UNRWA spokesman said he could not respond. . until the investigation is completed.

Mr Weisbrod's letter was sent to Catherine Colonna, chair of the research team, after the findings of their interim report revealed what Israel called «serious gaps between diagnosis and conclusions.»

Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (Impact-se), the only non-governmental organization invited to testify and provide evidence to the review panel, provided a 245-page dossier of what it said was evidence of “institutional teaching of hate.” in UNRWA textbooks in Gaza.

Glorifying jihad

The Telegraph has seen the dossier, which contains evidence ranging from glorifying jihad, terror and anti-Semitism to teaching children that Israel does not exist. It also claims that UNRWA textbooks say that «Zionists» control the media, money and politics, that martyrs who fight infidels will go to heaven and that jihad to defend the homeland is encouraged.

The dossier also includes evidence of UNRWA school events commemorating the October 7 massacre, with UNRWA teachers and staff applauding the attack on social media.

Most examples of violations of neutrality in textbooks have already been published in recent years, but some have not yet been published, including an incident that occurred on December 10 last year at the UNRWA Boys' Basic School in Qalqilya, where a 5th grade student quoted the poem «Ya Ya Palestinian child,” which incites violence against Zionists and promotes martyrdom.

“I despise the people of Zion, and to hell with these damn people,” it read.

Let us sharpen our sharp swords and fight every damned [Zionist]» and «I love death and seek it» are among the verses of the poem, according to IMPACT-se.

p>Marcus Scheff, Executive Director of Impact-se, said: “The devastating evidence presented by Impact-se about the institutional teaching of hate in UNRWA textbooks and schools would convince any impartial investigative team of the agency's unacceptable complicity in terrorism.

“If the UN's internal review does not reach such a conclusion, an independent external investigation must be conducted immediately to ensure that UNRWA no longer continues to perform its role.”

Israel did this. have publicly called for UNRWA to disband, but other countries have defended the agency, saying its work with Palestinian civilians is vital because most of them rely on its help.

According to a February Wall Street Journal report, US estimates intelligence, some UNRWA staff took part in the events of October 7, but they cannot confirm Israeli accusations that more than 2,000 workers have links to terrorist groups.

The Danish Institute for Human Rights, one of the non-governmental organizations involved investigation by the research team, declined to comment when approached by The Telegraph.