UN Watch, a non-governmental organization, has demanded an apology from the United Nations after a memorial service for fallen U.N. employees included Imad Youssif El Samhouri, who was later identified by Hamas as a field commander in its Al-Qassam Brigades. The U.N. stated it was unaware of El Samhouri's affiliation at the time of the ceremony.
During the annual memorial service in June 2026, honoring 136 employees who died in service in 2025, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, and then-Security Council President Leonor Zalabata Torres participated in lighting a candle for fallen colleagues. El Samhouri's name was read aloud as part of the tribute.
El Samhouri had been employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) as a teacher and associate principal before becoming principal of UNRWA Rafah Preparatory Boys School B. On August 8, Hamas identified El Samhouri on the messaging platform Telegram as a field commander.
Secretary-General Guterres stated at the ceremony that "more U.N. colleagues have been killed in Gaza than in any other conflict or disaster in the history of the United Nations." He added, "U.N. personnel must never be targeted."
Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, sent an open letter to Guterres and Baerbock, requesting an apology and an acknowledgment that UNRWA is "unwilling or unable" to remove terrorists from its schools. Neuer cited social media posts attributed to El Samhouri that allegedly demonstrate his support for what he called "Palestinian martyrs," praise for the kidnapping of Israeli teens, and endorsement of Hamas attacks between 2012 and 2014.
Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for Guterres, told Fox News Digital that UNRWA and the U.N. are "always very deeply concerned when allegations against the former staff is raised." He confirmed that the agency was unaware of El Samhouri's alleged affiliation when his name was included. Dujarric noted that the list of UNRWA staff is shared annually with Israeli authorities, and no concerns were raised regarding El Samhouri's name on the 2024 list. "Had those allegations been raised before, his name would likely not have been included," Dujarric stated.
Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the U.N. spokesperson's response, calling it "outrageous" for struggling to condemn the alleged crimes of former UNRWA employees. Danon asserted that Israel had repeatedly warned the U.N. about active Hamas terrorists operating within UNRWA and playing a role in the atrocities of October 7, 2025. He stated that the U.N. spokesperson's response reflected a loss of moral compass and that such actions led to Israel ending UNRWA's operations within Israel.
UN Watch also presented a video allegedly from the Israel Defense Forces showing El Samhouri before grenades and a weapon, stating that "the call to arms has resounded in the hearts of the faithful and they have answered the call." The video also reportedly features El Samhouri discussing "jihad as our path" and thanking God for "the tunnels and made them a means of resistance."
Neuer further claimed that El Samhouri "publicly glorified terrorism, circulated Hamas battlefield propaganda, and brought Hamas officials into UNRWA school life." He alleged that evidence shows many UNRWA school officials were aware of and tolerated or encouraged El Samhouri's support for terrorism and ties to Hamas.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General is currently investigating approximately 1,500 UNRWA employees for potential ties to Hamas. Thus far, the USAID OIG has referred 108 UNRWA staff to the State Department, recommending their suspension or barring from further cooperation with U.S.-funded organizations.
A senior State Department official briefed on the USAID OIG's investigation stated that the probe is revealing the "pervasive extent to which UNRWA has aided and abetted Hamas," including hiring numerous Hamas-linked terrorists and transferring infrastructure to the group. The official advised other U.N. agencies to study the USAID OIG's work to prevent similar occurrences.