U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres defended the UNRWA’s operations in Gaza, stating that only a few elements of the organization were affiliated with Hamas. Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon, however, claimed that the UNRWA is completely taken over by Hamas. Guterres acknowledged that Hamas had infiltrated the organization but denied the extent of Israel’s claims, saying there was no evidence to support them. He condemned the infiltration and stated that UNRWA had not committed to providing support to Hamas.
Israel has maintained its accusations against UNRWA, with Danon criticizing Guterres and the U.N. for ignoring the issue. He defended an Israeli airstrike on the UNRWA al-Jaouni school in a Gaza refugee camp, claiming that the individuals killed were terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre. The IDF stated that the school, which was not operational, was being used as a Hamas command and control center. Last month, it was revealed that UNRWA had fired nine employees suspected of their involvement in the massacre.
The United States suspended funding to UNRWA due to the role some of its employees played in the October 7 massacre. President Biden had reinstated aid to the organization upon assuming office, after former President Trump had decided to defund it in 2018. The controversy surrounding UNRWA’s alleged ties to Hamas has led to calls for increased scrutiny of the organization and its employees. The Israeli government, along with Danon, has continued to accuse UNRWA of being infiltrated by Hamas and serving as a cover for terrorist activities.
Guterres has maintained that only a small number of individuals within UNRWA have ties to Hamas, emphasizing that the organization as a whole does not provide support to the group. The back-and-forth between Israel and the U.N. over the issue has intensified, with both sides standing firm in their respective positions. The allegations against UNRWA have sparked concerns about the agency’s effectiveness and accountability, as well as the need for increased oversight to prevent further infiltration by terrorist groups.
The ongoing dispute between Israel and the U.N. over UNRWA’s alleged ties to Hamas raises questions about the organization’s operations in Gaza and its role in providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees. The accusations have led to calls for a thorough investigation into UNRWA’s activities and the actions of its employees. The controversy surrounding UNRWA’s involvement in the October 7 massacre has further strained relations between Israel and the U.N., with both sides engaging in a war of words over the issue. Moving forward, it remains to be seen how the situation will be resolved and what steps will be taken to address the allegations against UNRWA.
