U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and U.N. General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock are under fire for honoring a Hamas terrorist leader who worked for schools funded by the notorious U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The U.N. refused to apologize on Tuesday, shrugging off the terrorist’s inclusion as an innocent mistake.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published August 28, 2026
The United Nations is facing mounting international criticism after a solemn memorial ceremony honoring fallen staff members inadvertently included the name of a man later identified by Hamas as one of its field commanders, prompting accusations of negligence and renewed scrutiny of the U.N.’s Gaza refugee agency.
At the center of the controversy is Imad Youssif El Samhouri, a former employee of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), whose name was read aloud during the U.N.’s annual memorial service alongside 135 other personnel who died in the line of duty in 2025.
Memorial Turns Into International Controversy
The candle-lighting ceremony, held at U.N. headquarters in New York, was intended to honor employees who lost their lives while serving the organization.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, and senior diplomats participated in the tribute as a violinist played while the names of deceased staff members were read.
But weeks later, critics pointed to Hamas’ own announcement identifying El Samhouri as a field commander in the Al-Qassam Brigades, the terrorist group’s military wing. Hamas publicly acknowledged his role on Aug. 8 through its Telegram channels.
Who Was Imad El Samhouri?
Before his death, El Samhouri worked for UNRWA as a teacher, associate principal, and later principal of a boys’ preparatory school in Rafah.
According to Fox News, Hamas’ posthumous tribute described him as one of its military commanders, creating a direct conflict with his public identity as a U.N. educator.
Israeli officials have also circulated images and intelligence they say link El Samhouri to Hamas’ armed wing, although the U.N. says it did not possess that information when the memorial was organized.
U.N. Says It Didn’t Know
The United Nations insists the inclusion was an error rather than an endorsement.
A U.N. spokesman said organizers were unaware that El Samhouri had been identified by Hamas as a commander and explained that the memorial list was compiled from personnel records and long-standing procedures used to honor deceased employees.
The spokesman also suggested that Israel had not objected to the list before the ceremony, a response that has itself become controversial after critics argued responsibility rests with the U.N. to vet those it publicly commemorates.
UN Watch Demands an Apology
The Geneva-based human rights organization UN Watch has called for a formal public apology and the removal of El Samhouri’s name from the memorial record.
Executive Director Hillel Neuer said the incident reflects a broader failure within UNRWA to identify and address alleged Hamas infiltration among its workforce.
The watchdog argues that honoring an acknowledged Hamas commander alongside humanitarian workers damages the credibility of the United Nations and insults victims of terrorism.
Growing Scrutiny of UNRWA
The controversy arrives as UNRWA faces multiple investigations into alleged links between some employees and Hamas.
Fox News reported that the USAID Office of Inspector General is investigating approximately 1,500 UNRWA employees for possible ties to Hamas, with more than 100 cases reportedly referred to the U.S. State Department for further action.
A senior U.S. official told Fox News that the investigation is examining whether individuals connected to Hamas were employed by the agency or benefited from U.S.-funded humanitarian infrastructure.
UNRWA has consistently denied institutional support for Hamas and says it investigates credible allegations involving its staff.
Imad Youssif El Samhouri was employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA.) On Aug. 8, Hamas identified El Samhouri through messaging site Telegram as a field commander in the Al-Qassam Brigades. (IDF)
Israel Renews Criticism of the U.N.
The memorial dispute has further strained already deteriorating relations between Israel and the United Nations.
Israeli officials have long accused UNRWA of allowing Hamas to infiltrate schools, humanitarian facilities and its employee network inside Gaza—claims the agency disputes.
For Israel, the revelation that a memorial honored someone later identified as a Hamas commander reinforces its argument that deeper structural reforms are necessary within UNRWA.
A Symbolic Error With Global Consequences
Although the U.N. describes the incident as an administrative mistake, the political fallout has been significant.
The ceremony was designed to honor humanitarian service and sacrifice. Instead, it has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over accountability, terrorism and the integrity of international institutions operating in Gaza.
Whether the organization ultimately issues a formal apology may determine how the controversy shapes public confidence in one of the U.N.’s most scrutinized agencies.
🧩 Bottom Line:
The United Nations says it unknowingly honored a former UNRWA educator who was later publicly identified by Hamas as one of its field commanders. Critics argue that explanation is not enough.
As investigations into alleged Hamas infiltration of UNRWA continue, the memorial controversy has intensified demands for stronger vetting, greater transparency and accountability within the U.N. system. What was meant to commemorate humanitarian service has instead become another chapter in the growing political battle over Gaza, terrorism and the credibility of international institutions.
