Israel Responds to Claims of UNRWA Workers Killed in Gaza Airstrike
Tel Aviv [Israel], September 12: Israel has refuted claims that six UNRWA workers were killed in an airstrike on a Hamas command center in Gaza, stating that three of the nine terrorists killed were also UNRWA employees.
Details of the Airstrike
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) released the names of nine terrorists killed in what used to be the Al Jaouni School in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The IDF stated that the building was used by Hamas to plan and carry out attacks. Measures were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including aerial surveillance and precision munitions.
Request for Information
Upon receiving allegations that local Palestinian workers of the UNRWA agency were killed, the IDF contacted the agency for details and names to examine the claim. As of now, UNRWA has not responded to these requests.
Identified Terrorists
The IDF identified the three UNRWA employees killed as:
- Muhammad Adnan Abu Zayd, responsible for launching mortars at soldiers and into Israel
- Yasser Ibrahim Abu Sharar, an operative in Hamas’ emergency bureau in Nuseirat
- Ayad Matar, another Hamas terrorist
The other six terrorists were identified as:
- Aysar Karadia, Amar al-Jadili, and Akram Saber al-Ghalaydi, all serving in Hamas’s Internal Security Forces
- Bassem Majed Shaheen and Muhammad Issa Abu al-Amir, participants in the October 7 massacre
- Sharif Salam, whose specific role was not indicated
Calls for Action Against UNRWA
Israeli officials have demanded that UNRWA be stripped of its authority in Gaza and defunded, citing the involvement of its staff in Hamas’s attacks. The Knesset is advancing legislation to designate UNRWA as a ‘terror organisation,’ removing its diplomatic immunity and other legal benefits.
More than 100 survivors of Hamas’s October 7 attacks have filed a USD 1 billion lawsuit against UNRWA, accusing the agency of aiding and abetting the terror group.
Background
At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 97 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.
Doubts Revealed
Israel -: Israel is a country in the Middle East, located on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
UNRWA -: UNRWA stands for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. It helps Palestinian refugees with things like education, health care, and food.
Gaza -: Gaza is a small region on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordered by Israel and Egypt. It is home to many Palestinians.
Airstrike -: An airstrike is when military planes drop bombs or fire missiles at a target on the ground.
Hamas -: Hamas is a group that controls Gaza and often has conflicts with Israel. They are considered a terrorist organization by many countries.
Israel Defence Forces (IDF) -: The Israel Defence Forces, or IDF, is the military force of Israel. They protect the country and its people.
Terrorists -: Terrorists are people who use violence and fear to try to achieve their goals, often against civilians.
Defunded -: Defunded means to stop giving money to an organization or program.
Authority -: Authority means having control or power over something or someone.