UN Watch Says UNRWA Completed Only 13 of 50 Reforms as Hamas Allegations Persist
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 16
UN Watch Says UNRWA Completed Only 13 of 50 Reforms as Hamas Allegations Persist
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 16
Summary
UN Watch said UNRWA completed at most 13 of 50 reforms recommended after the 2024 review, disputing the agency’s claim that 41 had been finished.
The watchdog said UNRWA counted draft policies, pilot programs and implementation plans as completed reforms, citing staff vetting and textbook oversight as key examples.
Stéphane Dujarric defended the process at a UN briefing, saying UNRWA reports regularly to member states and shares staff lists with Israeli, Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian authorities for checks.
The challenge lands amid renewed scrutiny after a U.S. government investigation reportedly referred more than 100 current or former UNRWA employees over alleged Hamas ties, a report Trump amplified in August.
The reforms stem from the Colonna review commissioned after allegations that UNRWA staff took part in the Oct. 7 attacks; Guterres accepted all 50 recommendations in April 2024.