UNESCO’s Misidentification of Terrorist Operatives as Journalists in Gaza
How UNESCO Repeatedly Identified Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Operatives as Journalists—and Failed to Correct the Record
A Report by UN Watch
8 July 2026
I. Summary and Call to Action
In the wake of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, UNESCO has repeatedly issued public statements identifying individuals killed in Gaza as journalists and condemning their deaths. In a number of these cases, however, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad themselves subsequently acknowledged that the individuals concerned were members or operatives of their organizations.
Despite this evidence, UNESCO has neither corrected nor withdrawn the statements in question. This pattern is fundamentally inconsistent with UNESCO’s mandate and its own published methodology for verifying the deaths of journalists.
UNESCO’s Constitution entrusts the Organization with promoting “the free flow of ideas by word and image.” That mission necessarily depends upon the credibility of UNESCO’s public communications. UNESCO’s own methodology for its Observatory of Killed Journalists provides that reported cases are verified using multiple sources and may be updated when new evidence emerges.
Likewise, both the Standards of Conduct for International Civil Service and the UNESCO Staff Rules and Regulations require UNESCO officials and employees to act with integrity, independence, and impartiality.
Those standards cannot be reconciled with publicly identifying acknowledged members of terrorist organizations as journalists or failing to correct the record once their affiliations become known.
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have long embedded members of their military wings within civilian institutions while concealing their operational roles. The use of civilian status to shield military activity violates the principle of distinction under international humanitarian law and places genuine civilians, including journalists, at greater risk. By identifying acknowledged Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives as journalists, UNESCO has implicitly legitimized that violation.
UNESCO action to defend press freedom around the globe has tremendous potential. This golden opportunity is squandered, however, when the authority of the United Nations is used to make factual assertions that have not been adequately verified.
Before publicly condemning the killing of an individual as a journalist, UNESCO must establish whether the individual was entitled to civilian protection or was serving in a military or combat-support role for a terrorist organization. Failing to do so undermines UNESCO’s credibility and the integrity of its work to protect journalists worldwide.
Call to Action
Accordingly, UN Watch calls on UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany to:
- Publicly condemn Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for their pattern and practice of employing members of their military apparatus in media roles and presenting terrorist operatives as uninvolved journalists.
- Review every UNESCO statement and Observatory entry concerning journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, in light of credible evidence of membership or operational role with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and correct or retract any statement or entry that inaccurately identified terrorist operatives as journalists and omitted their acknowledged terrorist affiliations.
- Commission an independent investigation of UNESCO’s verification procedures for journalist casualty statements issued since October 7, 2023, to determine whether UNESCO staff failed to comply with the Organization’s verification methodology and applicable rules of conduct, identify those responsible, and impose appropriate disciplinary measures, including dismissal where warranted.
- Publicly announce the names of all UNESCO officials and employees responsible for the agency listing terrorists as journalists, and disclose which were terminated or otherwise disciplined.
- Adopt a formal policy requiring UNESCO, before publicly identifying any deceased individual as a journalist or condemning his or her killing on that basis, to determine whether the individual was a member of, or performing operational functions for, an armed group or designated terrorist organization, and to promptly correct or withdraw any statement when credible contrary evidence subsequently emerges.
- Publish the evidence, sources, and verification methodology relied upon for every UNESCO statement and Observatory entry concerning journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, including any contradictory information that was considered and the reasons for UNESCO’s final determination.
- Submit the findings of the independent investigation, together with UNESCO’s proposed corrective measures, to the UNESCO Executive Board and Member States, and publicly report on the implementation of those reforms within six months, including measures taken to ensure that UNESCO’s journalist casualty reporting fully complies with its verification standards, Staff Rules, and the Standards of Conduct for the International Civil Service.
II. Cases of UNESCO Identifying Terrorists as Journalists
1. Mohammad Sami Jarghoun (Killed on October 7, 2023)
The martyr poster of Mohammad Sami Jarghoun, published by Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades.
UNESCO Statement:
“I condemn the killing of journalists Mohammad Jarghoun and Mohammad El-Salhi… Mohammad Jarghoun was a reporter with Smart Media… I call for full and diligent investigations to determine the circumstances of these tragedies.” (source, archive)
Evidence of Muhammad Sami Jarghoun’s Terrorist Affiliation:
Mohammad Sami Jarghoun has been recognized in an official online obituary as a member of the Al-Qassam Rafah Brigade. This is the primary military arm of the Hamas terrorist organization, known in full as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Hamas’s Al-Qassam Rafah Brigade has been involved in numerous actions designated as terrorism by Israel, the United States, the European Union, and others. These include deliberate attacks on civilians, hostage-taking, and indiscriminate rocket fire, including:
- October 7, 2023 Massacre and Atrocities: The Rafah Brigade to which Muhammad Sami Jarghoun belonged, as one of Hamas’s southern Gaza units, participated in the coordinated multi-axis invasion of southern Israel alongside other Al-Qassam brigades and allied groups.
- Hostage-taking: Hamas terrorists, including southern units operating from or near Rafah, abducted over 250 people (civilians, including babies, children, women, elderly, and some soldiers) from Israeli communities (e.g., Nir Oz, Be’eri, Kfar Aza, and border areas). Many were taken into Gaza through breaches near the southern sector. Some hostages were held in tunnels and facilities in the Rafah area.
- Atrocities: The overall attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, involving mass shootings at kibbutzim and the Nova music festival, burning people alive, mutilation, sexual violence, and executions. Al-Qassam Brigades including southern brigades claimed responsibility for the operation. Specific Rafah Brigade commanders or subunits have been linked by Israel to abductions and holding of hostages.
- Hostage-Related Actions During the War: The brigade and Al-Qassam overall held hostages in underground tunnel networks in Rafah and southern Gaza. Some hostages were moved between locations, including Rafah. Several hostages died in Gaza, including from lack of medical care or deliberate killings. The IDF has reported eliminating Rafah Brigade members who participated in abductions or guarding hostages.
- Other Terrorist Actions:
- Rocket and mortar attacks: Indiscriminate firing of thousands of rockets toward Israeli civilian communities, a hallmark of Al-Qassam tactics.
- Ambush and IED/suicide operations: During the IDF 2024 ground operation in Rafah, the Hamas brigade conducted ambushes, used anti-tank missiles, explosives, and suicide bombers against Israeli forces. Some operations were filmed and released as propaganda.
- Tunnel warfare and infrastructure: Extensive use of cross-border and internal tunnels for attacks, smuggling, and hiding Hamas fighters and Israeli hostages. The Rafah Brigade operated near the Philadelphi Corridor on the Egypt-Gaza border.
- Targeted killings of civilians: Historical pattern includes suicide bombings and shootings aimed at Israeli civilians, both pre- and post-October 7.
Correction Required: UNESCO should retract its condemnation of the alleged IDF killing of Mohammad Sami Jarghoun. Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades acknowledged him in an official obituary as a member of their terrorist organization.
2. Mohamed Naser Abu Huwaidi (Killed on December 23, 2023)
The martyr poster of Mohamed Naser Abu Huwaidi, published by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
UNESCO Statement:
“I condemn the killing of Mohamed Naser Abu Huwaidi… [He] was a journalist for the Al-Istiklal newspaper. He was killed in an airstrike on the Shajaiah area, while reporting on the aftermath of earlier strikes… I call for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his death.” (source, archive)
Evidence of Terrorist Affiliation:
Palestinian Islamic Jihad claims Mohamed Naser Abu Huwaidi as a “martyred” commander of their “media war unit.” (Official PIJ Al-Quds Brigade Page, Al-Quds News)
Correction Requested: UNESCO should retract its condemnation of the killing of Mohamed Naser Abu Huwaidi. Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Al-Quds Brigades acknowledged him in official publications as a commander in the organization’s media war unit.
3. Hamza Al Dahdouh (Killed on January 7, 2024)
UNESCO Statement:
“I condemn the killings of Hamza Al Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya and call for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of their deaths… Hamza al Dahdouh was a Palestinian journalist and camera operator for Al-Jazeera.” (source, archive)
Evidence of Terrorist Affiliation:
A day after the UNESCO statement, the IDF revealed that their troops located documents which indicated that Hamza Al Dahdouh was a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad as a deputy commander in the Zeitun Battalion’s Rocket Array. The image of the document was published. (IDF, IDF tweet)
Correction Required: UNESCO should retract its condemnation of the killing of Hamza Al Dahdouh. Official Palestinian Islamic Jihad documents recovered by the IDF identify him as Deputy Commander in the Zeitun Battalion’s Rocket Array of the organization’s Al-Quds Brigades.
4. Mustafa Thuraya (Killed on January 7, 2024)
UNESCO Statement:
“I condemn the killings of Hamza Al Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya and call for a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances of their deaths… Mustafa Thuraya was a Palestinian freelance videographer who had worked with Al-Jazeera, Agence France Presse (AFP) and other media.” (source, archive)
Evidence of Terrorist Affiliation:
A day after the UNESCO statement, the IDF revealed that their troops located documents which indicated that Mustafa Thuraya was listed as a member of Hamas’s Gaza City Brigade, serving as Squad Deputy Commander in the al-Qadisiyyah Battalion. The document was not shared. (IDF, IDF tweet)
Correction Required: UNESCO should retract its condemnation of the killing of Mustafa Thuraya. Official Hamas documents recovered by the IDF identify him as Squad Deputy Commander in the al-Qadisiyyah Battalion of the Gaza City Brigade.
5. Mohammed Manhal Abu Armana (Killed on July 13, 2024)
Screenshot of Mohammed Manhal Abu Armana in Mujahid martyr video posted by Hamas.
UNESCO Statement:
“I condemn the killing of Mohammed Manhal Abu Armana… Mohammed Manhal Abu Armana was a journalist for the news agency Palestine Now. He was reporting on the aftermath of an airstrike in al-Mawasi, in southern Gaza, when he was reportedly hit by a drone strike… I call for a full and transparent investigation into this tragedy.” (source, archive)
Evidence of Terrorist Affiliation:
Hamas posted a Mujahid martyr video of “Platoon Commander” Mohammed Manhal Abu Armana. In the video, Armana is seen holding and firing various weapons, including sub-machine guns and an RPG. He is also seen jumping in and out of concealed underground tunnels and detonating explosives. Armana says in the video: “If you are watching this, it means I passed into the mercy of Allah. To the al-Qassam Brigades: By Allah, we will not betray this blood.” (Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades Martyr Page, Al-Qassam’s Telegram)
Correction Required: UNESCO should retract its condemnation of the killing of Mohammed Manhal Abu Armana. Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades identified him in an official martyr video as a platoon commander.
6. Anas Al-Sharif (Killed on August 10, 2025)
IDF infographic containing an official document retrieved from Hamas that listed Anas Jamal Al-Sharif as a fighter and cell leader.
UNESCO Statement:
“I condemn the killing of journalists Anas Al-Sharif… and call for a thorough and transparent investigation… Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh worked as journalists, while Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa worked as camera operators, all for international media outlet, Al Jazeera.” (source, archive)
Evidence of Terrorist Affiliation:
According to evidence revealed by the Israeli Government at least a day before this UNESCO statement, Anas Al-Sharif was head of a Hamas cell responsible for facilitating and advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF forces. A photograph of him hugging October 7 terror mastermind and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was also included. (Israeli Gov’t, IDF)
Anas Al-Sharif embracing October 7 terror mastermind and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Correction Required: UNESCO should retract its condemnation of the killing of Anas Al-Sharif. Official Hamas documents recovered by the IDF identify him as the head of a Hamas terrorist cell responsible for facilitating rocket attacks.
7. Mohammed Washah (Killed on April 8, 2026)
Photos of Mohammed Washah engaged in terrorism training, retrieved from his laptop by the IDF.
UNESCO Statement:
“I condemn the killing of Mohammed Washah and call for a thorough investigation… Mohammed Washah worked as correspondent for international media outlet Al Jazeera.” (source, archive)
Evidence of Terrorist Affiliation:
In February 2024, over two years before the UNESCO statement, the IDF exposed Mohammed Washah as a “prominent commander in Hamas’s anti-armor rocket system within the military wing.” At the time, the IDF shared multiple pictures of him with RPGs and weaponized drones. After Washah was killed and four days before UNESCO’s statement, the IDF again tweeted that he was a terrorist. In January of 2026, the IDF also claimed his brother Ahmed Samir Muhammad Washah simultaneously served as an Al Jazeera photojournalist and Hamas sniper operative. (IDF February 2024, IDF April 2026, IDF Washah’s Brother)
Correction Required: UNESCO should retract its condemnation of the killing of Mohammed Washah. Evidence recovered by the IDF from Washah’s laptop identified him as a commander in Hamas’s anti-armor rocket unit.
