Following serious accusations by Israel against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), an independent group of experts has planned to begin a review of the organisation on Wednesday.
The UN set up the panel under the leadership of former French foreign minister Catherine Colonna.
The 67-year-old would work together with experts from the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Sweden, the Michelsen Institute in Norway and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
An interim report is planned for the end of March.
The UNRWA has been in the headlines for several weeks because Israel has accused a dozen of its employees of being involved in the terrorist acts.
The terrorist acts committed by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement on Oct. 7.
As a result, several Western countries including the two largest donors, the United States and Germany, temporarily suspended payments the aid organisation.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, promised comprehensive clarification. Co-operation with several employees was terminated immediately.
The group of experts was to discuss the extent to which UNRWA has complied with or violated measures to maintain neutrality.
The suggestions for improved protective measures and changes can also be made.
The U.S., among others, had called for fundamental reforms.
Israel says that the organisation has been completely infiltrated by Hamas and is calling for its dissolution.
A second, internal investigation by the United Nations is taking place at the same time as the independent audit.
This is looking into the individual allegations against employees of the UN aid organisation.
It was rumoured that it would take several weeks.
The UNRWA has been working specifically for the needs of Palestinian refugees for decades and operates educational and health facilities, among other things.
In total, more than 30,000 people work for the organisation, with some 13,000 in the Gaza Strip. (dpa/NAN)
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