Danon challenges UN with images of UNRWA staff, 'journalists' tied to terror in Gaza, Hamas

Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Danny Danon, presented the UN Security Council with images of individuals identified as journalists and UNRWA employees who were allegedly killed by Israel but later revealed to be terrorists. Danon used these images to challenge critics of Israel, questioning whether the individuals were "terrorist or journalist?" and "UNRWA employee or Nukhba commander?"

Danon specifically named Ahmed Samir Muhammad Washah, Mohamed Naser Abu Huwaidi, and Mohammad Abu Itiwi as examples of terrorists presented as journalists or UNRWA staff. He asserted that "The United Nations continues to condemn Israel based on Hamas propaganda." Danon criticized the UN's process, stating, "The accusations come first, the truth comes later, but no one ever apologizes." He urged the council to "stop blaming the country fighting terrorism and start putting pressure where it belongs: on Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran."

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Terrorist or journalist? UNRWA employee or Nukhba commander?

Furthermore, Danon condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for previously referring to a terrorist killed by Israel as a journalist. The report also details actions taken by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Following the publication of obituaries by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad identifying individuals as combatants, the CPJ is conducting a review of its database of journalists killed during the Israel-Hamas War.

As a result of this review, the CPJ has removed eight names from its "Killed" database after establishing they were members of Hamas or PIJ. An additional 12 individuals were removed for other reasons, bringing the total removed to 20. The CPJ stated that as of June 25, the total number of individuals documented as journalists or media workers killed by Israel in Gaza and Israeli detention centers since October 7, 2023, stands at 209.

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The United Nations continues to condemn Israel based on Hamas propaganda. The accusations come first, the truth comes later, but no one ever apologizes. It is time to stop blaming the country fighting terrorism and start putting pressure where it belongs: on Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.