UN Watch Petitions U.N. to Remove UNRWA Chief's Legal Immunity

UN Watch called on U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday (Sunday) to lift the immunity of outgoing UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, allowing national authorities to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute him over alleged complicity in terrorism, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The request was reported by Maariv.

The appeal is based on Article 20 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. In its letter, UN Watch argues that diplomatic immunity exists to protect the interests of the United Nations—not individual officials—and therefore should be waived in this case.

"For years, we repeatedly warned Mr. Lazzarini that Hamas had deeply infiltrated UNRWA," said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch. "We provided detailed evidence identifying teachers, school principals, union leaders, and other employees affiliated with Hamas. We documented repeated meetings between senior UNRWA officials—including Mr. Lazzarini himself—and Hamas leaders and other terrorist organizations. Despite this, he continued assuring governments that UNRWA's neutrality mechanisms were effective, while overseeing an agency whose staff, facilities, and resources were exploited by terrorist groups."

According to the report, UN Watch alleges that despite repeated warnings, Lazzarini continued overseeing salary payments to thousands of UNRWA employees in Gaza, many of whom were later found to have ties to Hamas and other terrorist organizations, while also managing facilities that allegedly provided terrorist groups access to infrastructure.

The letter states that "these facts establish reasonable grounds to investigate whether Lazzarini knowingly facilitated or provided support and material assistance to individuals and entities involved in terrorism, war crimes, and crimes against humanity."