Following her release, British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari and her mother revealed Emily had been held in a UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) facility in Gaza, a location linked to Hamas operations.
In a conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Emily, 28, and her mother described Emily’s denial of adequate medical care during her captivity in a UNRWA school, where the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) later uncovered Hamas tunnels and munitions.
Emily was abducted on October 7, 2023, suffering gunshot wounds to her hand and leg. She received only outdated iodine as medical treatment. The IDF’s discovery of Hamas infrastructure beneath UNRWA buildings, including terror-related tunnels, raises serious concerns about the agency’s role in Gaza.
Emily and Mandy urged international pressure on Hamas and UNRWA to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to the remaining 82 hostages.
“We urge maximum pressure on Hamas and UNRWA to allow ICRC access,” Mandy Damari told Starmer. “The suffering continues for those still captive, many elderly or severely injured.”
This follows reports that the U.K. government continues to support the UN agency.
Last week, the U.S. administration continued its freeze on UNRWA funding, a decision initiated during Trump’s first term and maintained amid ongoing investigations into the agency’s Hamas ties. This reflects growing concerns about UNRWA’s failure to uphold international neutrality and accountability standards.
Allegations of UNRWA facilities being used by Hamas to hold hostages emerged early in the crisis, but the UN and UNRWA initially dismissed them. Despite mounting evidence, both have faced criticism for their slow response.
The UN initially dismissed accusations as “big accusations,” failing to conduct a thorough investigation. Only after significant public pressure did UNRWA acknowledge the claims in a January 21 tweet, stating they were taking them “extremely seriously.”
UNRWA’s commissioner-general, Philippe Lazzarini, expressed relief at Emily’s release in his January 21 tweet but downplayed the allegations’ severity.
“Claims that hostages have been held in UNRWA premises are deeply disturbing & shocking. We take any such allegations extremely seriously,” Lazzarini tweeted.
However, Lazzarini stated UNRWA was forced to vacate its northern Gaza facilities, including those in Gaza City, on October 13, 2023, and lacked control after military evacuation orders.
He added, “UNRWA has not been involved in any negotiation related to hostage release as it is not within its mandate.”
Former UN investigator Peter Gallo questioned this statement.
“So who has control? UNRWA has 12,000 staff in Gaza, and the agency has been begging for money and aid to support people sheltering in its premises. Does UNRWA want it both ways? They want funding to support those in the facilities, but also claim no responsibility for what goes on inside them,” Gallo stated.
“Someone must have been distributing aid. Someone must have been reporting conditions and numbers while UNRWA functioned. And you’re telling me nobody knew about a young Israeli woman with gunshot injuries? We didn’t know where she came from?” Gallo added, highlighting inconsistencies in UNRWA’s stance.
The lack of transparency and accountability from the UN and UNRWA has drawn widespread criticism. Gallo heavily criticized UNRWA’s internal investigation, calling it a “farce.”
“The UN investigation FAILED to prove ANY involvement in acts of terrorism,” Gallo said.
He claimed UN staff members “fired” after being seen participating in the October 7 massacre weren’t terminated for misconduct but made redundant and received severance pay.
“UN staff members engaged in crimes, crimes against humanity, and the UN is giving them severance packages,” Gallo said.
While an UNRWA spokesperson didn’t respond to questions on Gallo’s allegations, Lazzarini released a statement Friday addressing critics.
“UNRWA has the most robust systems to ensure neutrality compared to other similar UN organizations,” Lazzarini said. “This applies to staff and programs, as confirmed by an independent review last year. Safeguarding neutrality is central to delivering aid in Gaza, education, and primary health services. As one of the largest UN agencies, UNRWA is committed to UN values and principles. We remain dedicated to staying and delivering.”
Yona Schiffmiller, director of research at NGO Monitor, highlighted Hamas’ involvement in humanitarian aid.
“Hamas used the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) to direct aid distribution. The head of MoSD, Ghazi Hamad, designated by the U.S. Treasury as a Hamas leader, met with UN officials and international NGOs promoting Hamas interests,” Schiffmiller explained.
“MoSD data influenced aid distribution, solidifying Hamas’ grip on Gaza’s humanitarian aid. We have pictures of officials, and in the background, you can see the Hamas logo on the wall during meetings.”
The Israeli Knesset passed a law barring UNRWA from operating in Israel, effective January’s end. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its stance on UNRWA’s ties to terrorism.
“Humanitarian aid doesn’t equal UNRWA, and UNRWA doesn’t equal humanitarian aid. UNRWA equals an organization infested with Hamas terror activity,” its statement said. “Israel remains committed to facilitating humanitarian aid through alternative independent organizations.”