United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher has demanded that Israel provide evidence to support accusations that staff from the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are linked to Hamas militants. The request followed remarks by Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon at a Security Council meeting, where he alleged OCHA had lost neutrality and announced tighter visa restrictions and security vetting for its employees.
Danon asserted that Israel possessed “clear evidence” of Hamas ties within OCHA but did not present documentation. In response, Fletcher, in a letter to the Security Council, said these allegations were unprecedented and carried serious security implications for humanitarian workers. He urged Israel to immediately share its findings.
Fletcher defended OCHA’s mandate, stressing that engaging all conflict parties is essential to secure humanitarian access and protect civilians. He added that OCHA’s contacts with Hamas have facilitated hostage releases, highlighting the organization’s impartial role in conflict zones.
The dispute comes amid the ongoing Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages. Israel’s military response has since killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, leaving much of the territory in ruins.
Fletcher reiterated the need to uphold international law, calling for both the end of civilian starvation in Gaza and the unconditional release of hostages. Israel denies responsibility for food shortages, despite controlling supplies entering the enclave.
The escalating tensions between Israel and the U.N. over humanitarian operations highlight growing friction surrounding aid access and civilian protection amid the prolonged Gaza conflict.