Was UNRWA's Head of Operations in Gaza part of Hamas?
Scandal rocks UN agency as top official is accused of being a member of the terrorist group
The United Nations agency responsible for providing aid to Palestinian refugees is in turmoil after its head of operations in Gaza was accused of being a member of Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the territory.
The allegations against Mohammed el-Halabi, who was arrested by Israeli authorities in June 2016, have sent shockwaves through the UN system and raised serious questions about the agency's ability to operate in Gaza.
UNRWA, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, is one of the largest UN agencies in the world, with a budget of over $1 billion and a staff of over 30,000.
The agency provides essential services to over 5 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza, including food, shelter, education and healthcare.
But UNRWA has come under increasing pressure in recent years, with some critics accusing it of being biased towards the Palestinians and of failing to do enough to combat terrorism.
The allegations against el-Halabi are the most serious to have been leveled against a UN official in recent memory and could have a devastating impact on UNRWA's operations in Gaza.
El-Halabi's arrest and the allegations against him
El-Halabi was arrested by Israeli authorities on June 15, 2016, and charged with being a member of Hamas and diverting UN funds to the group.
According to the Israeli indictment, el-Halabi used his position at UNRWA to smuggle weapons and money into Gaza and to recruit new members for Hamas.
El-Halabi has denied the charges, but the Israeli authorities have released a number of documents that they say support their case, including financial records and intercepted communications.
UNRWA's response
UNRWA has strongly condemned el-Halabi's arrest and has called for his immediate release.
The agency has also launched an internal investigation into the allegations against el-Halabi and has suspended him from his duties.
UNRWA has said that it is committed to cooperating with the Israeli authorities in their investigation, but it has also expressed concern about the "politicization" of the case.
The impact of the allegations on UNRWA
The allegations against el-Halabi have had a devastating impact on UNRWA's operations in Gaza.
The agency has been forced to suspend a number of its programs in the territory, including its food distribution program and its school feeding program.
The allegations have also damaged UNRWA's reputation and made it more difficult for the agency to raise funds.
The future of UNRWA
The allegations against el-Halabi have raised serious questions about the future of UNRWA.
Some critics have called for the agency to be disbanded, while others have called for it to be reformed.
UNRWA has said that it is committed to continuing its work in Gaza, but it is clear that the agency faces an uncertain future.
