Moscow, Jan 29 (Representative) Norway’s representative office to the Palestinian Authority said on Saturday it would continue to stand by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) despite allegations that several of its staff were involved in the October 7 attack on Israel. “The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and UNRWA is the most important humanitarian organization there. Norway continues our support for the Palestinian people through UNRWA. International support for Palestine is needed now more than ever,” it said on social media. The US Department of State said on Friday that 12 UNRWA employees might have been involved in the Hamas attack on Israel. The UN agency’s chief, Philippe Lazzarini, promised that those suspected of involvement in the attack would be fired and tried if found guilty. Several of the staunchest Israel backers said they would pause funding for the agency pending the results of the investigation.
The Norwegian mission said that reports of UNRWA workers’ involvement in the attacks were deeply disturbing and, if true, completely unacceptable. It welcomed UNRWA’s probe into the matter and called for full transparency. “We need to distinguish between what individuals may have done, and what UNRWA stands for. The organization’s tens of thousands of employees in Gaza, the West Bank and the region are playing a crucial role in distributing aid, saving lives and safeguarding basic needs and rights,” it stressed. On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip. Some 1,200 Israelis — military and civilian — were killed and about 240 were taken hostage. Israel launched massive strikes and competely sealed off Gaza from any deliveries, including water, food, medicines, electricity and fuel. Israel also launched a ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas and rescuing the hostages. Nearly 26,000 Palestinians have been killed so far in Gaza and well over 60,000 wounded as a result of Israel’s military operations.