Hamas Records Seized by Israel Expose UNRWA School Administrators as Hamas Operatives

Newly uncovered documents obtained by Israel reveal that senior staff members at schools operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza also served as members of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades. The records, detailed in a report by The New York Times, show that at least 24 educators, including principals and school counselors, were active Hamas operatives.

UNRWA, tasked with providing education and social services for Palestinians, employs around 13,000 people in Gaza. It is mandated to maintain neutrality in conflict zones, but the seized records expose a stark failure in this regard:

• At least 24 UNRWA employees were linked to Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

• A majority were top administrators at UNRWA schools, while others were teachers and counselors.

• Two schools were identified as Hamas weapon stash sites and safe houses.

• Some militants remained employed even after Israel formally warned UNRWA of their ties to Hamas.

According to Amir Weissbrod, Deputy Director General for UN and International Organizations, “The U.N. seems intent on portraying this problem as a few bad apples, rather than acknowledging that the tree is rotten.”

UNRWA has faced criticism for years over allegations of indoctrination and glorification of terrorism within its schools. Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of United Nations Watch, reported widespread antisemitism and pro-terrorism propaganda in UNRWA teaching materials. Neuer also revealed a Telegram chat group of 3,000 UNRWA teachers celebrating Hamas’ October 7th massacre of Israeli civilians.

The problem extends beyond Hamas. In 2016, Fox News reported that UNRWA schools were being used to indoctrinate children into supporting ISIS. A documentary titled The UNRWA Road to Terror highlighted young students chanting support for the Islamic State and promoting violence.

Israeli officials assert that these revelations confirm long-standing concerns about UNRWA’s complicity with Hamas. Former UNRWA general counsel James Lindsay noted that “UNRWA hiring practices and the makeup of the labor pool from which UNRWA draws its employees” make Hamas infiltration inevitable. Israel estimates that as many as 100 UNRWA workers may be Hamas militants.

In 2018, the Trump administration withheld $65 million in funding for UNRWA, citing its failures to prevent terrorist ties. Critics of the agency argue that international funds have directly supported terrorism, rather than advancing the welfare of Palestinian civilians.

These revelations underscore the dangers of UNRWA’s unchecked operations in Gaza, where neutrality is not just an expectation but a critical mandate. By allowing militant operatives into its ranks, the organization has jeopardized its credibility and contributed to ongoing regional instability.

Accountability for UNRWA and reform of its practices are essential to ensuring that humanitarian aid does not serve as a cover for terror. Without significant changes, the agency risks further undermining the cause of peace and security in the region.

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