Secretary-General António Guterres has asked the head of the UN agency assisting Palestine refugees, UNRWA, to 'swiftly' investigate 'extremely serious allegations' that several agency staffers were involved in the 7 October terror attacks in southern Israel.

Mr. Guterres has also asked UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini to swiftly investigate and any employees found to have taken part in or 'abetted what transpired' in the brutal attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian militants that day to be fired and referred 'for potential criminal prosecution'.