Israeli hostages released as part of the recent ceasefire with Hamas have claimed they were held in a U.N. camp in Gaza.
Hostages Romi Gonen, Emily Damari, and Doron Steinbrecher, who were released from Hamas custody on Sunday, reported that they had been held in a U.N. refugee camp at some point during their captivity, according to Israel’s Channel 13. Details were not given as to what camps they were held in, when, or for how long.
The revelation is the latest blow to the position of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which has faced attacks against its credibility throughout the war in Gaza.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the UNRWA for comment.
The UNRWA operates eight refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, established in 1948-1949 after the Israeli War of Independence. Most aren’t recognizable as “camps” in the traditional sense, having developed over time into urban establishments. Several have populations numbering over 100,000 people. The majority of Gazans are registered as refugees.
The UNRWA clarifies on its website that it doesn’t administer or police the camps, leaving those matters to governing Hamas authorities. It employs 13,000 staff across over 300 installations to provide education, medical attention, and other humanitarian aid to locals.
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Israel has accused some UNRWA staff members of being members of Hamas, alleging last year that 19 staffers were members of the militant group. The agency fired nine staffers after finding links with Hamas, though they found insufficient evidence in the 10 other cases.
Gonen, Damari, and Steinbrecher were held in captivity for 471 days. The current ceasefire deal aims to release all remaining hostages over many weeks.