Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has called for the resignation of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, citing allegations made by Israel earlier this month.
Israel claims that 12 employees of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) were involved in a Hamas incursion into Israel. Katz argues that Guterres is responsible for the actions of UNRWA staff and must step down or be replaced.
He accuses the UN chief of ignoring complaints and information about the aid organization’s behavior and alleged cooperation with Hamas. Katz believes that UNRWA is part of the problem and should be replaced with a new agency involving greater participation from Arab states. Israel has not yet provided evidence for its allegations, but plans to share details with countries like the US and Germany.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has described the Israeli allegations as highly credible, although independent investigation has not been possible. A secret Israeli government report, cited by The New York Times, claims that UNRWA workers assisted in the kidnapping of Israelis and armed Palestinian fighters.
In a statement released on Sunday, Secretary-General Guterres emphasized the need for accountability regarding the alleged misconduct of the staff members, stressing that there should be legal consequences for their actions.
However, he cautioned against countries following the example of the US, Germany, and Italy, who decided to reduce their funding for UNRWA. Guterres highlighted the vital role that the agency plays in providing essential aid to approximately 2 million Palestinian civilians in Gaza, emphasizing their dependence on this assistance for survival.
The UN has taken action by terminating the employment of nine UNRWA employees implicated in the allegations, with one reported to have passed away and two others yet to be identified.
In October, Israel called for Guterres’ resignation after he acknowledged that the attack on the country was not isolated but rather occurred within the context of a long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories for over five decades.
