According to a confidential complaint, UNRWA leadership ignored repeated concerns about staff ties to Hamas and actively blocked oversight. The whistleblower alleged Hamas representatives were even allowed to vet job candidates. In one case, a man previously rejected for suspected terror links was later hired as a school principal.

The complaint said some UNRWA officials in Gaza were “completely co-opted” by Hamas, with decisions routinely guided by the group. It also claimed internal investigations were stalled or shut down by senior managers. Emails and documents cited in the report showed oversight requests were dismissed, undermining UN neutrality.

UNRWA rejected the claims, insisting it maintains strict neutrality and complies with UN rules. The agency has faced mounting criticism since Israel revealed that several employees were involved in Hamas’s October 7 attack. UNRWA fired 12 staff and launched an internal probe at that time.