PETITION TO INVESTIGATE UNRWA

We, the undersigned, hereby call upon His Excellency, the Secretary General of the United Nations – The Honorable Ban Ki Moon to establish an independent International Commission to investigate the activities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) with respect to the following:

1. Reports that UNRWA facilities in Gaza were used to support Hamas terror attacks against Israel. Documented evidence indicates UNRWA facilities were used to:

a. stockpile missiles intended for use against Israel;

b. launch missiles at civilian targets in Israel; and

c. dig a terror tunnel, lay booby-traps and detonate explosives in an UNRWA clinic which claimed the lives of three Israeli soldiers.

2. Reports that building materials and funds provided by the UN and intended for civilian projects were fraudulently diverted to develop the Hamas terror tunnel network and military infrastructure.

These were financed by the tax-payers of the “contributing nations”. The UN has an obligation to its contributors to ensure that donations are used in accordance with the aims for which they were given. Generally accepted audit controls were apparently disregarded.

We assert that it is reasonable to assume that the diversion of materials and funds could not occur without the knowledge and/or willful participation of senior UNRWA officials.

3. Twenty-five of the twenty-seven-person UNRWA Executive in Gaza are reportedly Hamas members. This in itself represents a serious conflict of interests. This Executive is suspected of violating the duties of directors charged with the responsibility of administering public funds.

It is reasonable to infer from the aforementioned pattern of alleged gross misconduct which contributed to the loss of life both in Gaza and Israel that these acts could not have occurred without the knowledge and/or complicity of senior UNRWA personnel.

In light of the above, we hereby respectfully request, that His Excellency, in his capacity as Secretary General of the United Nations, act promptly to establish an independent International Commission of Inquiry to investigate the above allegations.