Israel to be wary of London in a hurry

On August 6, 2024, it was announced that several employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) were implicated in the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel, which were carried out by Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas. The UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) conducted an investigation into allegations involving 19 UNRWA staff members. The findings led to the termination of nine employees. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini confirmed the news, stating that the implicated individuals could no longer work for the agency. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres paid lip service to the involvement of UN staff in the events, expressing “horror”, and ordered a swift investigation, with potential criminal prosecutions to follow. However, the investigation, which remains confidential, faced criticism from various quarters. Outgoing Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, called it inadequate, arguing that many more UNRWA employees were involved and that the agency had not drawn proper lessons from these findings. He urged for a broader crackdown on UNRWA staff involved with Hamas. Additionally, the Simon Wiesenthal Center reiterated its call for the closure of UNRWA, citing long-standing issues with antisemitism and incitement within the agency.

This development has intensified scrutiny on UNRWA and its operations, with calls for significant reforms or even the replacement of the agency with other organizations to better address the needs of Palestinian refugees without the associated security risks.

Israel’s January 2024 Denunciation of UNRWA Staff Ties to Terrorism

Israel first publicly denounced the involvement of UNRWA employees in the October 7 terrorist attacks on January 4, 2024. Their announcement followed an internal investigation that identified 12 UNRWA staff members potentially involved in the events. These allegations were part of a broader criticism of UNRWA by Israel, which accused the agency of having structural ties to Hamas and claimed that some of its facilities and vehicles had been used for terrorist purposes during the attacks. Israel presented detailed allegations to UNRWA, claiming that some employees had been identified through captured footage and others admitted their involvement under interrogation. At the time, Israel faced significant international media backlash, with newspapers quickly labeling the evidence as unilateral and ex parte.

UK Labour Government’s Controversial Decision on UNRWA Funding

The new UK Labour government, under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, has immediately adopted a supportive stance towards the UNRWA. In a significant policy shift from the previous Conservative administration, the Labour government’s first foreign policy move was to restore funding to UNRWA. A mere 2 weeks into duty, the UK’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, announced the release £21 million to support UNRWA’s humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank. This decision was made after an independent review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna claimed that there was “no evidence to substantiate the claims against UNRWA staff.” The funding is part of a broader £27 million package aimed at providing emergency food, shelter, and other essential services to Palestinian refugees. The UK government emphasized the importance of UNRWA’s role in delivering humanitarian aid at scale and called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and unfettered access for humanitarian organizations in Gaza.

Diplomatic and Counterterrorism Implications of the Labour Move

The Labour government’s committed a glaring policy blunder in light of the recent official findings implicating several UNRWA employees in the October 7 terrorist attacks. This raises serious questions about the Labour’s judgment and its commitment to ensuring that aid organizations operate with integrity and neutrality. By resuming funding prematurely, the Labour government has demonstrated a lack of thorough scrutiny. The decision to release £21 million to support UNRWA was based on an independent review that found no substantial evidence of misconduct. However, the subsequent official investigation revealed that nine UNRWA employees were involved in terrorist activities, leading to their termination. This underscores the insufficiency of the initial review and suggests that the UK government acted hastily without waiting for more comprehensive and conclusive investigations.

The Labour government’s move also shows a disregard for significant security concerns. The involvement of UNRWA employees in terrorist activities directly undermines the agency’s credibility and neutrality. By reinstating funding, the government appears to overlook the potential misuse of humanitarian aid funds and resources, which could inadvertently support terrorist activities. This decision could also strain the UK’s diplomatic relations with Israel and other allies who are deeply concerned about UNRWA’s ties to terrorist groups. Israel’s denunciation of UNRWA’s involvement in the attacks was clear and forceful, and the Labour government’s funding restoration might be perceived as dismissive of these legitimate security concerns, leading to diplomatic friction and a loss of trust between the UK and its key allies in the region.

Furthermore, this decision sends mixed signals regarding the UK’s stance on counterterrorism. On one hand, it acknowledges the importance of humanitarian aid; on the other, it appears to downplay the severity of terrorism allegations. This inconsistency can undermine the UK’s broader counterterrorism efforts and its commitment to ensuring that aid does not fall into the hands of those who pose security threats.

The decision to continue funding the UNRWA despite the recent findings may also damage the UK’s reputation on the global stage, as it highlights a failure to uphold stringent standards of accountability and transparency in international aid.

Arms Sales to Israel Being Suspended by UK Civil Service

More recently, the Jewish Chronicle reported that the UK government has begun suspending arms export licences to Israel amid a policy review. Although no final decision has been made, civil servants have jumped the gun and halted permits. This follows increasing pressure by the Foreign Office on Jerusalem, after an International Court of Justice ruling on Israel’s settlements.

In summary, the Labour government’s decision to fund UNRWA despite the serious allegations now publicly confirmed, while suspending arms sales to Israel, reveals a striking policy contradiction. It seems Labour has taken the “skin” off the “arms trade” while putting the “fund” in “fundamental error.”