Israeli FM says UNRWA is 'Hamas proxy'

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar held a press conference in Jerusalem as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) began hearings on Israel's ban of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Saar criticized the case, accusing UNRWA of being a Hamas proxy.

Gideon Saar, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affair said "The case being heard in the Hague this week is fundamentally distorted. It should be against UNRWA. Under the disguise of a UN agency, UNRWA is a Hamas proxy. It completely betrayed its mandate." Saar stated that the ICJ's advisory opinion was being sought regarding an organization infiltrated by terrorism.

He also claimed that the legal campaign against Israel was driven by Palestinian interests and aimed at weakening the country. He cited the employment of over 1,400 known terrorists by UNRWA, many of whom took part in the October 7th atrocities. He also accused UN Secretary-General António Guterres of covering up UNRWA’s ties to terrorism despite Israel’s repeated warnings.