Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
After the launch of the British-Israeli hostages Emily Damari, she and her mother, Mandy, revealed that Emily was kept captive in a United Nations Center for the Relations and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, a place linked to Hamas operations.
During a telephone call with British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, Emily, 28, and Mandy described how Emily was denied adequate medical care while stopping in one of the UNRWA schools, where Israeli defense forces ( FDI) discovered tunnels and ammunition linked to Hamas.
Emily was kidnapped on October 7, 2023 by Hamas terrorists who shot him in his hand and leg. He was denied the treatment, with only an obsolete bottle of iodine provided as medical help. The discovery of the IDF of Hamas infrastructure under the UNRWA buildings, including tunnels linked to terrorist activities, has generated serious concerns about the role of the agency in Gaza.
Emily Damari, right, and her mother Mandy are seen near Kibbutz Reim, southern Israel after Emily was released from captivity by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, on Sunday, January 19. (AP/Israeli Army)
Emily and Mandy emphasized the need for international pressure on Hamas and UNRWA to allow access to the International Red Cross Committee (CICR) to the remaining 82 hostages.
“We are asking that maximum pressure on Hamas and UNRWA be placed to allow access to ICRC to the remaining hostages“Mandy Damari told Starmer.” The suffering is far from ending for those who are still in captivity, many of whom are greater or seriously injured. ”
This followed the revelations of the United Kingdom government remains an active defender of the controversial UN agency.
The released hostages Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari, with Green, are received by Israeli soldiers after their arrival in Israel after being held in Gaza from the mortal October 7, 2023, attack. (Israel Defense Forces/Brochure through Reuters)
Last week, President Donald Trump reinforced the position of his administration over Unrwa by continuing a freezing of the United States funds for the agency. Trump’s decision, initially promulgated during his first mandate, remains in force in the midst of ongoing investigations on the agency’s ties with Hamas. This movement reflects the growing concerns about the failure of UNRWA to meet international neutrality and responsibility standards.
The worrying accusations of the UNRWA facilities used by Hamas to maintain hostages arose early in the crisis, but the UN and the UNRWA initially dismissed the claims. Despite the growing evidence, both have been criticized for their slow response.
When the accusations arose, the UN discards them as “great accusations”, he could not carry out an exhaustive investigation. It was not until significant public pressure increased that UNRWA, on a tweet on January 21, acknowledged the statements and said it was taking them “extremely serious.”
Philippe Lazzarini, the UNRWA General Commissioner, said relief at Emily’s launch on his tweet on January 21, but continued to minimize the seriousness of the accusations.
“The statements that hostages have been carried out at the UNRWA facilities are deeply disturbing and shocking. We take such accusations extremely seriously,” Lazzarini wrote.
However, Lazzarini also said that Unrwa was forced to vacate its facilities in northern Gaza, including those of the city of Gaza, on October 13, 2023, and had no control over them after orders of military evacuation were issued .
He added: “Unrwa has not been involved in any negotiation related to the release of hostages, since it is not within its mandate.”
The photos published by the Israeli defense force show three individuals that the Israeli military claim that they are Hamas terrorists within a UNRWA complex in Rafah. (IDF)
Peter Gallo, a former UN researcher, questioned his statement.
“So who has control? Unrwa has 12,000 employees in Gaza, and the agency has been asking for money and help to support people who protect themselves in their facilities. But they don’t realize what happens within them either,” Gallo said.
Trump interrupts us from the UN Human Rights Council, prohibits the financing of UNRWA
“Someone must have been distributing, even if it was only two captures of potatoes between 1,000 people. Someone must have informed the conditions, the number of people in these facilities while Unrwa tried to work. And you are trying to tell me that, did nobody know about A young Israeli with gunshot wounds?
The continuous lack of transparency and responsibility of both the UN and the UNRWA in response to accusations has generated generalized criticism. Gallo has strongly criticized the internal research conducted by UNRWA, describing it as a “farce.”
“UN research could not prove that any of them was involved in acts of terrorism,” Gallo said.
He affirmed that the staff members who were “fired” by the UN after being seen in cameras that participated in the massacre of October 7 were not finished due to misconduct. Instead, they became redundant and received compensation payments.
“You have had members of the UN staff involved in crimes, crimes recognized by the ICC as crimes against humanity, and the UN will now give them a compensation package because they were fired from their positions,” Gallo said.
A UN vehicle enters the UNRWA offices in Jerusalem on April 2, 2024. (YOAV DUDKEVITCH/TPS)
While a UNRWA spokesman did not answer Fox News Digital questions about the accusations of Gallo, Lazzarini issued a statement on Friday in response to critics.
“UNRWA has the most robust systems to guarantee adherence to neutrality compared to other similar organizations and entities,” said Lazzarini. “This applies to both the agency and our programs throughout the region, as confirmed by an independent review carried out last year under the leadership of the former French Foreign Minister.
“Safeguarding the neutrality of the agency is essential for our ability to continue providing help to save lives in Gaza, as well as primary education and health services throughout the region. As one of the world’s largest UN agencies in the world, UNRWA is committed to values and principles of the UN, which strengthens our response during one of the most challenging periods in the history of the Palestinian people.
General Commissioner Philippe Lazzarini of the United Nations Agency for Relat and the works for Palestinian refugees in the Near East during a press conference in Geneva on January 24, 2023 (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP through Getty Images)
Yona Schiffmiller, research director of NGO Monitor, further illuminated Hamas’ participation in the humanitarian aid process.
“Hamas used the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) for the distribution of direct aid. MOSD Chief Ghazi Hamad, who was recently appointed by the United States Treasury as Hamas leader, met with UN officials and UN officials and International NGOs while promoting Hamas’ interests, “Schiffmiller explained.
“MOSD data influenced the distribution of aid in several organizations, solidifying the control of Hamas in Gaza’s humanitarian aid. We have photos of Hamad meeting with the UN Officials, and if they look closely in the background, you can see the Hamas logo on the map on the wall where they are. “
Click here to get the Fox News application
The Israeli knést passed Legislation that prohibits UNRWA From operating in Israel, which entered into force at the end of January. The Israeli Foreign Ministry reiterated its position on UNRWA’s ties with terrorism.
“Humanitarian aid is not equal to Unrwa, and Unrwa is not equal to humanitarian aid. UNRWA is equal to an infestious organization of Hamas’ terrorist activity,” said his statement. “Israel remains committed to facilitating humanitarian aid through alternative organizations that are independent and not complicit in terror.”
