Title: Israeli Intelligence Dossier Reveals Alleged Hamas Infiltration in UN Aid Agency
Word Count: 383
In a shocking revelation, an intelligence dossier compiled by Israeli intelligence has accused approximately 1,200 employees of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) of having links to Hamas. The dossier further claims that thousands more have close ties to various Gaza terror groups.
According to the report, around 10% of the 12,000 workers in UNRWA’s Gaza office are associated with Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Even more concerning is the fact that almost half of the agency’s employees, numbering around 6,000, have family members involved in these militant organizations.
The dossier paints a disturbing picture of UNRWA, labeling workers with links to Hamas as “operatives” actively participating in the group’s military or political activities. A senior Israeli government official has stated that this issue is not an isolated incident but a systemic problem, suggesting that UNRWA has become a safe haven for Hamas’ radical ideology.
When approached for comment, UNRWA declined to address the allegations and indicated that an internal UN investigation is currently underway following accusations that 12 of its members participated in a terrorist attack on October 7.
Highlighting the infiltration of Hamas in the aid agency, the intelligence report points out that a significantly higher percentage of male UNRWA employees have connections to Hamas compared to the general population in Gaza, raising concerns about potential militant group influence.
Israel has previously raised concerns about the politicization of UNRWA, citing the example of former UNRWA union chief, Suhail al-Hindi, who was elected to a senior role in Hamas in 2017.
UNRWA has already taken action by dismissing nine out of the twelve staff members accused of involvement in Hamas’ terrorist activities. Shockingly, among those dismissed was an Arabic teacher who was revealed to be a militant commander involved in the October 7 attack.
The gravity of these allegations has severely shaken global confidence in UNRWA’s ability to effectively provide aid to Palestinian refugees amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. As a result, ten countries, including the United States, have cut millions of dollars in funding to the agency.
In response to the funding cuts, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, criticized the move as an unfair punishment for the entire Palestinian population, while emphasizing the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza.
In light of these revelations, it remains to be seen how UNRWA will address the alleged infiltration and restore international trust in its humanitarian efforts in the region.
