[REVISION HISTORY]

Controversy over UN memorial honoring alleged Hamas member

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-22 02:59 UTC → 2026-08-28 18:25 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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 in at the ~~Gaza Strip,~~ 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 ~~broader concerns regarding the potential infiltration~~ a “martyrdom video” as evidence of ~~UNRWA staff~~ El Samhouri’s involvement with Hamas. Criticism has also been voiced by ~~terror operatives.~~ 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.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.