UNRWA Fires 70 Gaza Staff Members, Denies Terminations Validate Hamas Allegations
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has dismissed 70 employees in Gaza with immediate effect, citing safety and security risks. The move follows a USAID investigation that referred over 100 UNRWA staff for suspension or dismissal, and longstanding Israeli allegations that significant portions of the agency's workforce have ties to Hamas. The firings mark a significant but contested step in addressing accusations that have dogged the agency since the October 7, 2023 attacks, while UNRWA insists the dismissals are not an admission of guilt.
UNRWA acting Commissioner-General Christian Saunders announced the termination of 70 Gaza-based staff members, stating the decision was made to mitigate safety and security risks rather than as part of a disciplinary process. The agency explicitly stated the firings do not validate Israeli claims against the employees, and reiterated that Israel has not provided specific evidence against named individuals despite repeated requests. The dismissals come in the wake of a USAID Inspector General investigation published in June 2025, which found multiple UNRWA employees allegedly embedded in Hamas military and civil structures, including school principals serving as Hamas battalion commanders and a teacher described as a trained Hamas sniper. Israel's Foreign Ministry rejected UNRWA's framing, calling the statement a 'cynical cover-up' for not mentioning Hamas by name and accusing the agency of harboring terrorists. Pro-Israel watchdog UN Watch, which claims to have documented at least 400 UNRWA staff with Hamas links, welcomed the firings as a first step but criticized the agency's refusal to acknowledge the underlying reasons. Visual evidence cited by Israeli authorities includes surveillance footage from October 7 appearing to show an UNRWA employee involved in the abduction of hostage Yonatan Samerano, as well as imagery of damaged UNRWA facilities sheltering displaced civilians, underscoring the agency's dual role in the conflict. UNRWA, which serves approximately 5.9 million registered Palestinian refugees, maintains it lacks police or intelligence capacity and must cooperate with local actors, including Hamas, to deliver aid in Gaza.
What's missing
The sources do not clarify what specific process or criteria UNRWA used to select these 70 employees for termination if not a disciplinary one, nor whether the dismissed staff have any avenue for appeal or reinstatement.
How coverage differed
The Times of Israel provided more historical context on UNRWA's mandate and the broader Israeli-Palestinian dispute over refugee definitions, while Fox News placed greater emphasis on specific details from the USAID investigation — such as named Hamas military roles held by UNRWA staff — and highlighted U.S. government actions including potential terrorism sanctions, reflecting a framing more aligned with Israeli and Trump administration criticisms of the agency.
What different sources said
- Fox NewsRight
UNRWA fires 70 Gaza staffers amid allegations of Hamas ties, says terminations not admission of guilt
- Times of IsraelCenter
UNRWA fires 70 Gaza staffers amid Israeli accusations agency riddled with Hamas operatives
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