UN Aid Efforts in Gaza and Leadership Concerns
A recent report from a watchdog organization suggests that major UN efforts to provide assistance in the Gaza Strip have fallen short, particularly in schools located in impoverished areas.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has faced scrutiny for its connections to Hamas, is accused of employing members of the group in significant leadership roles in Gaza and Lebanon. Despite UNRWA’s stance as a neutral entity, this report claims that the agency has failed to adequately remove several Hamas-affiliated leaders, which goes against its stated mission.
“By hiring Hamas leaders as school principals and allowing them to control unions overseeing thousands of teachers, UNRWA has not only tolerated extremism but also perpetuated it,” the report stated. It also mentioned that over its 75 years, UNRWA has expelled thousands of jihadists.
The report criticizes UNRWA for retaining Suhail al-Hindi as a principal and Gaza staff union president, despite his long-standing identification as a Hamas terrorist. Fateh Sharif, who was a senior Hamas official and leader of the Lebanese Teachers Union, was also kept on staff.
Although UNRWA claims to have dismissed Al-Hindi in 2017, he reportedly continued to receive benefits from the organization. A Palestinian source indicated that he was faced with an ultimatum to either resign or be terminated, suggesting that he opted to resign but noting the circumstances surrounding his departure.
Al-Hindi had publicly discussed “future battles” prior to the tragic events of October 7, stating on July 2, 2023, “This is a clear message to the enemy. We are preparing. Allah is pleased, and we are at the pinnacle of a battle that will become a decisive battle between us and the enemy.”
The report also highlighted Sharif’s influence, as he was responsible for overseeing 2,000 teachers and 39,000 students. Following his death in an Israeli airstrike in 2024, Hamas honored him as a significant figure within their movement.
The United Nations has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding these allegations.
