Watchdog demands apology after UN memorial erroneously honors Hamas terrorist

UN Watch has demanded a formal apology from UN Secretary-General António Guterres after the organization included Imad Youssif El Samhouri in a memorial service for deceased UN staff. El Samhouri, who previously served as a teacher and school principal for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), was identified by Hamas in August 2025 as a field commander in the Al-Qassam Brigades. His name was read during a June 2026 memorial service honoring 136 UN employees who died in 2025. Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, wrote an open letter to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly President, arguing that the incident demonstrates UNRWA's inability or unwillingness to remove terrorists from its schools. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, stated that the UN was unaware of El Samhouri's affiliation at the time of the ceremony. He noted that UNRWA staff lists are shared annually with Israeli authorities and claimed that had the allegations been raised previously, his name would not have been included. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon criticized the UN's response, stating the organization has lost its "moral compass." Reports indicate that El Samhouri had appeared in videos wearing military gear and standing in tunnels, where he spoke of "jihad" and "resistance." Currently, the USAID Office of Inspector General is investigating 1,500 UNRWA employees for potential ties to Hamas.