U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday defended UNRWA's work in Gaza, saying only “very few elements” within the organization have ties to Hamas.
Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon claimed last week that the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had been completely taken over by Hamas. Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged that Hamas had “infiltrated” the agency, but said on CNN on Sunday that there was no evidence to support Israel's claims.
“The fact is that on October 7 there was an infiltration by a small number of elements who actually took part,” Guterres said, condemning the action.
“A lot of things have been fabricated that do not correspond at all to the truth,” he continued. “Of course, there are tunnels under the UNRWA site, just like there are tunnels all over Gaza. But UNRWA has never promised to provide any assistance to Hamas.”
Israeli Defense Minister: Dozens of UNRWA staff took part in Hamas October 7 massacre
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has denied allegations that Hamas has influence over UNRWA in the Gaza Strip. (AP Photo/Iwamura Yuki, File)
Israel has meanwhile stepped up its criticism of UNRWA, with Danon accusing Secretary-General Guterres and the UN of “turning a blind eye” to the issue. Danon himself defended Israeli airstrikes last week on the UNRWA Al-Jawni school in a Gaza refugee camp.
Documents reveal information used to explain deep ties between UN agencies and Hamas in Gaza
“The IDF attack killed nine blood-stained terrorists, some of whom had participated in the brutal massacre on October 7. In case any doubts remain, the names of Hamas terrorists who were posing as 'local UNRWA officials' are on the school grounds,” Danon said.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the defunct school was being used as a command and control centre for Hamas.
A photo released by the Israel Defense Forces showed three people whom the Israeli military said were Hamas fighters inside the UNRWA compound in Rafah. (Israel Defense Forces)
Last month, Fox News Digital reported that UNRWA They were forced to lay off nine employees. This is because they are likely involved in the Hamas massacre of approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7.
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The United States has suspended funding to the country due to the role played by some UNRWA staff in the October 7 massacre. President Biden After deciding to defund the organization in 2018, President Trump controversially restored support for the agency upon taking office.
Fox News' Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.
