Dead Hamas commander had been a UN employee since 2022, Israel says

Hamas commander was also a UN employee, says Israel. Documents published by the Israeli army show that Mohammad Abu Itiwi had been an employee of UNRWA since July 2022. “Throughout the war, Abu Itiwi carried out numerous attacks on IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip,” according to the IDF.

Israeli Army says it requested clarification from senior UN officials. The statement also highlights that Tel Aviv has called for an “urgent” investigation into the involvement of UNRWA officials in the October 7 attack.

Death in joint operation. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that Itiwi was killed in a joint operation with the ISA (Israel Security Agency).

“Tonight, we confirm that, in a joint operation with the ISA, we have eliminated the Nukhba terrorist who led the massacre at the Re’im air raid shelter, where Israelis, including young people attending the Nova festival, were murdered and kidnapped. Ironically and horribly, this terrorist also worked for UNRWA,” he declared.

The UN has not yet commented on the accusation. This is not the first time that agency employees have been accused of involvement in the attack on October 7, 2023. In August of this year, the United Nations stated that nine employees of its agency for Palestinian Refugees “may be involved” in the attack on southern Israel perpetrated by Hamas.

“We have sufficient information to take the action we are taking – namely the dismissal of these nine individuals,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq said on August 5.