After the release of British and Israeli hostage Emily Damali, she and her mother Mandy, were taken prisoner at the United Nations Rescue Agency (UNRWA) Centre in Gaza, the location linked to Hamas' operations. has been revealed.
In a call with British Prime Minister Kiel, Emily, 28, Emily was in custody at one of the UNRWA schools where the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) later discovered a tunnel and ammunition linked to Hamas. , explained how Emily was denied proper medical care.
Emily was accused of on October 7, 2023 by Hamas terrorists who shot Hamas terrorists in the hands and legs. She was denied treatment and only had an outdated bottle of iodine provided as medical assistance. The discovery of the Hamas infrastructure IDF under the Unrwa building, which includes tunnels related to terrorist activities, raised serious concerns about the role of the agency in Gaza.
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Emily Damali and her mother Mandy will be seen near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel after Emily was released from captivity by Hamasterolists in Gaza on Sunday, January 19th. (AP/Israel Army)
Emily and Mandy highlighted the need for international pressure on Hamas and UNRWA to ensure access to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the remaining 82 hostages.
“We are asking the ICRC to put maximum pressure on Hamas and UNRWA to allow access to the rest of the hostages,” Mandy Damali told starmer. “Suffering is far from anyone still incarcerated, many of whom are elderly or seriously injured.”
This follows the revelation, and the UK government remains an active supporter of the controversial UN agency.
Released hostages Deron Steinbrecher and Emily Damali will be greeted by Israeli soldiers after arriving in Israel after being detained in Gaza since the fatal attack from October 7, 2023. (Distribution materials via Israeli Defense Force/Reuters)
Last week, President Donald Trump strengthened the administration's stance on UNRWA by continuing to freeze US funds to institutions. Trump's decision was first enacted during his first term, but in the ongoing investigation into his relationship with Hamas, he continues to essentially substantively. The move reflects growing concern over UNRWA's failure to meet international standards of neutrality and accountability.
The nasty allegations of the UNRWA facility Hamas is being used to hold hostages appeared early in the crisis, but the UN and UNRWA initially dismissed the claim. Despite the growing evidence, both have been criticized for their slow response.
When the accusations surfaced, the UN dismissed them as “a major accusations” and did not conduct a thorough investigation. It wasn't until considerable public pressure was put in a tweet on January 21 that Unrwa admitted the claim and said he was thinking “very seriously.”
UNRWA Chairman Philip Lazarini expressed relief in Emily's release in a January 21 tweet, but continued to downplay the severity of the allegations.
“The allegations that the hostages were held at the UNRWA facility are very unsettling and shocking. We take such allegations very seriously,” writes Lazarini.
However, Lazarini also said on October 13, 2023, that Northern Gaza facilities, including those in Gaza City, were forced to vacate, and that they were unable to control them after the military evacuation order was issued.
He added: “Unrwa is not involved in negotiations related to hostage releases as it is not within the scope of its mission.”
Photos released by the Israeli Defense Forces show three individuals whose claims are Hamas terrorists within Rafa's UNRWA compound. (IDF)
Former UN investigator Peter Gallo questioned his statement.
“So who has control? Unrwa has 12,000 staff members in Gaza, and the agency is seeking money and assistance to help those evacuating on its premises. Unrwa wants both. Are you there? But they are also not responsible for what's going on within them,” Garo said.
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“Someone must be distributing it, even if it was a bag of potatoes from two out of 1,000 people. Someone must be reporting the conditions. A young Israeli gunshot wounded. Did no one know about women? Gallo emphasized the contradiction in UNRWA's position and added.
In response to the allegations, the ongoing lack of transparency and accountability from both the UN and the UNRWA attracted widespread criticism. Gallo strongly criticizes the internal investigation conducted by UNRWA for describing it as a “father.”
“The UN investigation failed to actually prove that either of them was involved in terrorist acts,” Gallo said.
He allegedly did not terminate due to fraudulent activities after being seen on cameras participating in the October 7th massacre. Instead, they became redundant and received their retirement benefits.
“You're going to give them a retirement package because the UN staff are engaged in crime, the crimes that were recognized as crimes against humanity by the ICC, and the UN has been rejected from their position,” Garo said. I said that.
The UN vehicle will enter the UNRWA office in Jerusalem on April 2, 2024. (yoav dudkevitch/tps)
A UNRWA spokesman did not respond to Fox News Digital's questions regarding Gallo's allegations, but Lazzarini issued a statement Friday in response to critics.
“UNRWA has the most robust system for complying with neutrality compared to other similar UN organizations and entities,” Lazarini said. “This applies to both institutional staff and regional programmes, as confirmed by an independent review conducted last year under the guidance of the former French Foreign Minister.
“Protecting agency neutrality is central to our ability to continue to provide life-saving assistance in Gaza and to provide regional education and primary health services. As one of the world's largest UN agencies, UNRWA is the UN's UN. It is committed to values and principles. This is strengthened in one of the most challenging periods in Palestinian history.
At a press conference held in Geneva on January 24, 2023, Philip Lazarini, chairman of United Nations Relief and Palestinian Refugee Workers in the Near East (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
Yona Schiffmiller, research director for NGO Monitor, further clarified Hamas' involvement in the humanitarian process.
“Hamas has used the Department of Social Development (MOSD) to direct aid distribution. Gazi Hamad, the MOSD head, recently designated Hamas leader by the US Treasury, has promoted Hamas' interests. I met with UN officials and international NGOs as well,” explained Schiffmiller.
“Data from MOSD has impacted the distribution of aid across various organizations, solidifying Hamas' grip on humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Hamad Conference with the United Nations Officials, and if you look closely at the background, you can actually see the Hamas logo on the map of the wall they meet. ”
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Israeli Knesset passed a law that banned UNRWA from activities in Israel, which came into effect at the end of January. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has reiterated its position regarding UNRWA's relationship with terrorism.
“Humanitarian assistance is not comparable to UNRWA, and UNRWA is not comparable to humanitarian assistance. UNRWA is equivalent to the organisation that invaded Hamas terrorist activities,” the statement said. “Israel remains committed to promoting humanitarian assistance through independent alternative organisations.
