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3 clusters · 10 sources · 12 days · First seen · Last updated

Controversy over UN memorial honoring alleged Hamas member

Overview

A United Nations memorial ceremony held in New York on June 8, 2026, has come under scrutiny following allegations that one of the honored deceased, Imad El Samhouri, was a Hamas field commander.

El Samhouri, who served as a teacher and principal for UNRWA at the Preparatory Boys School B in Rafah, was commemorated during the event alongside 135 other deceased UN staff members. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock participated in the ceremony, which included lighting an ‘eternal flame.’

The watchdog group UN Watch has raised concerns, citing footage that depicts El Samhouri in combat gear with weapons emerging from Hamas tunnels. The group identifies him as a commander within the Muhammad-al-Shamali Battalion of the Al-Qassam Brigades and alleges he may have used UN-funded classrooms to recruit children. UN Watch director Hillel Neuer has formally called for a retraction of the tribute and a public apology, citing a “martyrdom video” as evidence of El Samhouri’s involvement with Hamas.

Criticism has also been voiced by Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon. While the United Nations has declined to issue a formal apology or retract the tribute, the organization has characterized the inclusion of El Samhouri in the official commemoration as an error. El Samhouri was killed in an Israeli airstrike in June 2025.

Entities

Imad El Samhouri · Antonio Guterres · UNRWA · United Nations · Annalena Baerbock

Timeline

  1. 15 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    United Nations faces criticism over memorial for Hamas commander

    The United Nations has refused to apologize after a memorial service honored Imad El Samhouri, a former UNRWA principal identified as a Hamas commander.

  2. 23 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    UN leaders honor fallen UNRWA staffer identified as Hamas commander

    UN leaders António Guterres and Annalena Baerbock faced criticism after honoring Imad El Samhouri, a fallen UNRWA staff member identified as a Hamas field commander.

  3. 27 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    UN memorial ceremony faces scrutiny over honoring alleged Hamas commander

    UN Watch alleges that a deceased UNRWA employee honored at a UN memorial ceremony, Imad El Samhouri, was also a Hamas field commander, prompting calls for an apology from UN leadership.

Sources

allisraelnews.com · apollo-news.net · freerepublic.com · juedische-allgemeine.de · jungefreiheit.de · live.focus.de · matzav.com · mycharisma.com · report24.news · rolandtichy.de

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history