The Israeli government has accused the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa) of employing 190 militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad, alongside 12 individuals allegedly involved in the October 7, 2023 attacks. This accusation comes amid claims from Emily Damari, a British-Israeli hostage recently released from captivity in Gaza, that Hamas held her in Unrwa facilities. Unrwa, which employs over 30,000 staff and garners significant international support, has denied knowingly aiding armed groups but dismissed nine employees following an investigation into these allegations.
Emily Damari's ordeal lasted over 15 months, during which she suffered severe injuries, including being shot in the hand and losing two fingers. Despite her condition, Hamas reportedly denied her access to medical treatment. Her release 12 days ago was a relief to her family, with her mother, Mandy Damari, expressing gratitude towards Keir Starmer for the government's efforts in securing her freedom.
“It’s a miracle that she survived, and we need to get aid to remaining hostages now,” – Mandy Damari
Unrwa has played a crucial role in delivering food aid to Gaza, contributing approximately 60% of the resources since the conflict began. However, the agency faces challenges, as it has been unable to access several of its facilities for months. These issues have been compounded by a new Israeli law enforced on Thursday, prohibiting Unrwa's activities within Israel and leading to the departure of international staff.
Critics argue that this legislation threatens essential humanitarian aid efforts in the region. Unrwa officials have voiced concerns about the potential impact on Gaza’s recovery and political transition.
“We’ve repeatedly called for independent investigations into these claims, including the misuse and disregard of Unrwa premises by Palestinian armed groups. That also includes Hamas.” – Unrwa representative
“We’ve been calling for the release of hostages for months on end … These claims that hostages have been held in Unrwa premises, even if they were vacated, are absolutely serious.” – Unrwa representative
Despite the ongoing controversy, Unrwa maintains that it does not support militant activities nor intentionally provide them assistance. The agency continues to emphasize its commitment to humanitarian aid and calls for thorough investigations into the allegations against it.