Key recommendations to strengthen the neutrality of the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees

An independent panel that reviewed the neutrality of the UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees, after Israel alleged that a dozen of its employees in Gaza had taken part in the Hamas attacks on October 7, released its report on Monday.

Here are some of his key recommendations for strengthening the neutrality of the agency, known as UNRWA.

— UNRWA, created by the UN General Assembly in 1949, does not have an executive board, but it does have an advisory body, which must place neutrality on its agenda at all meetings and create a working group on issues of neutrality and integrity.

— UNRWA faces challenges due to the increasing politicization of its staff and should announce procedures to deal with future allegations of violations of neutrality and identify and implement additional ways to evaluate staff early in the recruitment process.

— UNRWA should strengthen its regular sharing of digital personnel lists with host countries and Israel, ensuring the inclusion of additional information, including identification numbers and jobs. In response, host countries and Israel must provide UNRWA with the results of their screening and “any warning signs”.

— UNRWA’s international staff in Gaza represents less than 1% of its total staff and there is a need for more high-level international staff on the ground to oversee neutrality issues.

— Efforts to reform UNRWA’s management and internal supervision “are commendable and should be expanded”, notably through the creation of a centralized neutrality investigation unit.

— UNRWA must implement “a zero tolerance policy” in textbooks used in its schools, disseminating anti-Semitic views or promoting discrimination and incitement to hatred.

— The politicization of UNRWA staff unions is “one of the most sensitive neutrality issues” and the agency should request an independent body to vet each staff union representative for neutrality.

— It is “imperative” that UNRWA strengthens its engagement with donor countries to promote trust and strengthen its partnership.

— The international community has a responsibility to help and support UNRWA in addressing neutrality issues.