The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas was shocked by the statements made by Matthias Schmale, UNRWA Gaza’s director, made to Israeli TV, justifying Israeli aggression on civilians.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas was shocked by the statements made by Matthias Schmale, director of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, to the Israeli Channel 12 News on the latest Israeli aggression on Gaza Strip as he appointed himself as a military analyst or a spokesperson for the Israeli occupation army.

Schmale justified targeting Palestinian civilians and their homes, underestimated the value of losses, and hailed the Israeli occupation army for its ability to precisely hit its targets.

We remind Schmale that his primary job is to protect and aid Palestinian refugees and not to justify the Israeli aggression by killing their children and demolishing their homes.

We also remind that more than 280 Palestinian martyrs, including 70 children and 40 women, were killed and nearly 2,000 others injured, mostly women and children, in this round of aggression. 

Thousands of homes were bombed without warning their civilian residents in advance and hundreds of health, educational and social institutions were targeted.

In light of this, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas states the following:

• The UNRWA has to offer an official apology to the Palestinian people and all victims of the Israeli offensive for this direct incitement against them and their houses and properties.
• All UNRWA officials have to abide by the mandate granted to them by the United Nations to protect and aid Palestinian refugees and take every measure necessary to prevent such move from taking place again.
• The UN body has to take legal and administrative procedures against Schmale, who committed this grave mistake.
• Finally, we reiterate our appreciation to UNRWA’s historic role in serving the Palestinian people and are keen on maintaining good relations with this body in a way that serves our Palestinian people and upholds their historic rights.

The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas

Tuesday

25 May 2021