Highlights: UN commissioned the former head of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, to lead an independent committee to assess the “neutrality” of UNRWA. The Israeli ambassador to the UN in Geneva has already criticized the mandate given to this group. The UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, has not yet been able to confirm a trip to Gaza for this committee. The United Nations wants to reassure the agency's donors as quickly as possible, who have stopped their payments since Israel accused some of its employees of having participated in the October 7 attacks.

The head of the UN commissioned the former head of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, to lead an independent committee to assess the “neutrality” of UNRWA and its functioning.…

War in Gaza: UN appoints Catherine Colonna to lead investigation into UNRWA neutrality

The head of the UN commissioned the former head of French diplomacy, Catherine Colonna, to lead an independent committee to assess the “

neutrality

” of UNRWA and its functioning. But the Israeli ambassador to the UN in Geneva has already criticized the mandate given to this group: it would be “

too general

” for Israel, and would not make it possible to verify that no terrorist will be deployed in the future by the Unrwa.

Former French Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna in Beirut on December 18, 2023. She will now lead an independent committee to assess the “neutrality” of UNRWA. AP - Hussein Malla

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in New York,

Carrie Nooten

For the Israeli ambassador to the UN in Geneva, the committee led by Catherine Colonna should - not only - audit the neutrality of UNRWA, but it should also include experts to verify the procedures for combating terrorism and control. And even if she assures that Israel will collaborate in the investigation, her criticisms upstream were coldly received. The UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, has not yet been able to confirm a trip to Gaza for this committee.

Read also If UNRWA disappears, the Palestinians lose “one of the main symbols of their recognition”

“

We ask that people reserve their judgment on the work of Ms. Colonna and the work of her team with the three research centers until their investigation is completed, and the report is made public,” said the head of the Unwra. What we very much hope is that all residents of the region will provide the necessary cooperation required to ensure that his report is as complete and accurate as possible

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The United Nations wants to reassure the agency's donors as quickly as possible, who have stopped their payments since Israel accused some of its employees of having participated in the October 7 attacks.

The UN has also been demanding proof from Israel for several months, and in particular for three weeks, when the government of Benyamin Netanhayu publicly accused twelve UNRWA employees of being involved in the October 7 attacks. She has not yet obtained any.

War in Gaza: UN appoints Catherine Colonna to lead investigation into UNRWA neutrality

War in Gaza: UN appoints Catherine Colonna to lead investigation into UNRWA neutrality

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