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Former Israeli Hostages Reveal Captivity in U.N. Camp During Ceasefire with Hamas
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Israeli hostages released as part of the recently implemented ceasefire agreement with Hamas have revealed shocking details about their captivity, claiming they were held in a United Nations-run camp in Gaza. The Washington Examiner reported that hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, who were freed on Sunday, disclosed these allegations during their debriefing, as first reported by Israel’s Channel 13. While specifics regarding which camps, the duration of their stay, or exact timelines remain unclear, these revelations have raised significant questions about the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
According to the information provided in The Washington Examiner report, this revelation deals another blow to the credibility of the UNRWA, which has faced intense scrutiny and criticism throughout the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The organization, tasked with supporting Palestinian refugees since its establishment in 1948-1949 following Israel’s War of Independence, operates eight refugee camps in the Gaza Strip. These camps, far from resembling traditional refugee settlements, have evolved into densely populated urban areas, with some hosting over 100,000 residents. The majority of Gaza’s population is registered as refugees under the agency’s mandate.
The report in The Washington Examiner indicated that while UNRWA provides essential services such as education, healthcare, and humanitarian aid through its network of over 300 installations and 13,000 staff members, it does not administer or police these camps. Instead, governance falls under Hamas authorities. This operational arrangement has long been criticized, with Israel repeatedly accusing the agency of harboring individuals with ties to Hamas. Last year, evidence emerged that 19 UNRWA employees were affiliated with the Iranian-backed terror group. While the agency fired nine staff members following investigations, insufficient evidence was found to act against the remaining 10, The Washington Examiner reported.
The prolonged captivity of Gonen, Damari, and Steinbrecher—spanning an astonishing 471 days—call attention to the harrowing conditions faced by hostages during the conflict. The Washington Examiner highlighted that their release is part of a broader ceasefire agreement aimed at securing the freedom of all remaining hostages in stages over the coming weeks. However, their detention in a UN camp raises critical questions about the role and accountability of international organizations operating in conflict zones, especially amidst allegations of complicity or negligence.
UNRWA perpetuates the myth that Palestinians remain refugees, despite the fact that Gaza is their home and its civilian population democratically elected Hamas. This false narrative has been wielded as a tool to garner international sympathy and cast Israel as an oppressor, distracting from the reality that Palestinian leadership has consistently prioritized terror over governance.
Efforts to seek clarification from UNRWA regarding these allegations remain ongoing. As noted by The Washington Examiner, the agency has consistently maintained that it operates within its humanitarian mandate and does not engage in security-related activities within the camps. Yet, the persistence of allegations linking UNRWA staff and facilities to Hamas activities continues to cast a shadow over its credibility, particularly in the eyes of Israeli authorities and international observers.
New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, President Donald Trump’s nominee to become the ambassador to the United Nations told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday during her testimony that she will use the role to combat “anti-Semitic rot” at the UN.
Rep. Stefanik characterized UNRWA as a “program that is not meeting the mission of the UN. We need to roll our sleeves up, deliver reforms and make sure our dollars are going to programs within the UN that work and have a basis in rule of law, transparency, accountability and strengthen our national security.”
She added that “We should never tolerate any US taxpayer funds going toward terrorism. I was one of the members that voted to defund UNRWA… We can look to organizations within the UN which are proven organizations such as UNHCR, the World Food Program – which still need reform efforts and modernization – but don’t have the terrorist ties that UNRWA had that were exposed during October 7.”
Her statement follows President Trump’s signing of an executive order on Monday that would halt all new US funding for UNRWA. Two Trump administration officials emphasized that the move aligns with Trump’s broader agenda to cut foreign aid that does not serve America’s national interests. The US had previously halted aid to UNRWA in 2018 during Trump’s first term, but funding was resumed under the Biden Administration.
Former US Ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, described the decision as a “great start” for the new administration, which is reassessing foreign aid.
