Three Israeli women released last weekend as part of the Gaza ceasefire disclosed on Tuesday that they were held in a refugee camp operated by UNRWA, the United Nations agency serving Palestinian refugees, Foundation for Defence of Democracy (FDD) reported based on Israeli Channel 13 network claims.
However, the former hostages did not specify which of Gaza’s eight UNRWA camps were used to keep them captive.
The claims come after Israel accused UNRWA of being complicit with Hamas following the group’s October 7 attacks, which killed 1,400 Israelis.
An internal UN investigation confirmed the involvement of nine UNRWA employees in the October 7 attacks, though Israeli reports claim hundreds more have ties to Hamas. In response, Israel passed legislation in October 2024 banning UNRWA operations within its borders.
Newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20, halting US funding for UNRWA.
Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik, condemned the agency during her Senate confirmation hearing, calling the UN a “den of antisemitism.”
In a separate event, an exclusive Fox News report revealed that Hamas detained hostages in the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. Captured Hamas members reportedly admitted the hospital served as a “safe haven” since it was unlikely to be directly targeted by Israeli forces. The hospital was raided by IDF soldiers on December 28, resulting in over 200 arrests.
A former UNRWA security guard revealed in November 2024 that Hamas stole agency vehicles and supplies to support its operations. UN-marked vehicles were reportedly used to evade Israeli strikes.
Some reports allege that Hamas has systematically appropriated UNRWA aid, killed civilians attempting to access supplies, and placed hostages in UN facilities.