The United Nations Relief and Works Agency is denying allegations a member of its staff was killed alongside Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Sinwar was killed by Israeli forces on Wednesday, and rumors have spread alleging that a UNRWA worker's passport was found near him. The agency has rejected the reports and said the "disinformation campaign" smearing the organization was getting out of hand.
“Once again, unchecked information is used to discredit UNRWA and its staff,” the group’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a statement on X.
Lazzarini said the staff member mentioned in the reports is alive and resides in Egypt.
“Earlier today, reports circulated on social and Israeli media that an UNRWA staff member was killed together with the Hamas head in Gaza,” he said. “I confirm that the staff member in question is alive. He currently lives in Egypt where he traveled with his family in April through the Rafah border.”
The UNRWA Commissioner-General demanded "an end to disinformation campaigns" in Israel.
Once again, unchecked information is used to discredit @UNRWA & its staff.
Earlier today, reports circulated on social & Israeli media that an UNRWA staff member was killed together with the Hamas head in Gaza.
I confirm that the staff member in question is alive. He…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini)
October 17, 2024 The allegation that a worker was found near Sinwar spread with a picture allegedly of the employee's passport, which showed his occupation as an "UNRWA teacher." A Palestinian affairs correspondent for KAN News in Israel reported the UNRWA passport of the worker was found on Sinwar's body. The apparent passport expired in 2017. The correspondent suggested Hamas stole the passport.
עוד משהו שקרה היום: עובד אונר"א שדרכונו נמצא על סינוואר עדכן שהוא במצרים בכלל. גם מנכ"ל אונר"א אמר שהעובד יצא מעזה דרך רפיח למצרים כבר באפריל pic.twitter.com/LgXA31fbb0
— Nurit Yohanan (@nurityohanan)
October 17, 2024 The Washington Examiner contacted the UNRWA to confirm whether a worker's passport was found near Sinwar but received no response. The Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on that matter.
UNRWA has been linked to having complex ties with Hamas. The organization has denied being associated with the terrorist organization, but it has said delivering aid requires engaging "with all parties" and "takes place solely at an operational level." Israel has also accused UNRWA of having members who took part in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Israel has taken UNRWA's alleged ties with Hamas seriously. In July, the IDF bombed an alleged Hamas command center the army said was set up inside an UNRWA school in Gaza. The IDF said it took “many steps” to mitigate harm to civilians in that case, though thousands have been killed in Gaza during the war with Hamas.
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Sinwar's death, however, marked the closest the sides have been to the end of the war. President Joe Biden said Thursday that Sinwar was an "insurmountable obstacle" toward a settlement between Hamas and Israel.
Hamas deputy chief Khalil al Hayya confirmed Friday that Sinwar was killed in combat.
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