NEW YORK October 16, 2024 – In a recent appearance before the UN New York press corps Scott Anderson, Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, was asked by a Palestinian journalist if he condemned the IDF elimination of Ahed Al-Muqayyad, UNRWA Head of Operations in Gaza. Anderson refused to comment beyond knowing that he was killed since the details could not yet be verified surrounding his death. This is a stark departure from UNRWA’s usual approach of immediately condemning any attacks against UN personnel.
Anderson’s hesitation to immediately condemn the killing is telling and implies a lack of confidence in his UNRWA staff, and given its recent track record it is with good reason. The IDF mentioned he was eliminated during a targeted strike of Hamas fighters in the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip. UN Watch does not know if he was a member of Hamas but there were some indications:
1. One Palestinian source claims Ahed Al-Muqayyad was a leader in Hamas, helping oversee the group’s theft and resale of humanitarian aid.
“Once again, the northern Gaza Strip is entering a new famine due to the occupation’s prevention of the entry of vegetables, meat and commercial goods into it for nearly two consecutive months, after a temporary breakthrough occurred following the killing of several foreigners working in the global central kitchen after their car was bombed by Israeli aircraft. This prevention coincides with a decline in the amount of aid entering the north, which has led to citizens’ inability to buy goods (canned goods) from the market, which is supposed to be distributed to citizens for free, but Hamas sells most of the aid in different ways under the supervision of Hamas leaders, most notably (Salah Abdel Wahid – Ahed Al-Muqayyad – Samir Hamdan), and these same people are employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is banned from working in the north by an Israeli decision.”
As head of operations, Al-Muqayyad would have been aptly positioned to oversee such an operation.
2. Hamas’ official news channel, Al-Aqsa TV, mourned the death of Al-Mudayyad — something they usually only reserve for their members and leaders.
3. Ahed describes one of the best days of his life as the day his daughter got to share a stage with Ismail Haniyeh. He describes it as a “historic event” and “a victory for the belief in defiance.”
4. On October 7 and the days following, Ahed was celebrating and praying for victory. In one post he wrote, “Happiness that fills the heart” and in another, “the victory of Allah is near.” He then went radio silent on Facebook for almost a year, typical of fighters on the frontlines or in tunnels, until he made one last post on September 13th to praise Allah. Some of his UNRWA friends commented on that post to complain about not receiving aid, most however thanked Allah for his safety and asked where he had gone — Something he never responded.
5. As far back as 2011, Ahed was publicly celebrating the release of over 1000 Hamas terrorists which included Yahya Sinwar, and many others who shot, bombed, and stabbed innocent civilians. In fact, he created a whole photo album at Hamas rallies. His caption: “Hamas can attract the minds and hearts of people with its honesty of approach, strength of determination and steadfastness on principles.”
6. In June 2023, he celebrated another attack where two Hamas terrorists entered a gas station and restaurant shooting civilians indiscriminately. Ahed called it a “success” that 4 civilians were killed.
7. In May 2023, while Islamic Jihad was firing rockets at Israel he incited his 4,900 Facebook friends to join the terrorists, writing: “Stand up for your country and pay for it with your blood. Death is easier than the dust of humiliation.”
7. For the past 13 years on Facebook Ahed made posts glorifying suicide bombers like Reem Riyashi and posting open threats to Israel.
