fbpx

UNRWA Gaza Director Takes “Extended Leave of Absence”

The Jerusalem Post also reported that “Palestinian factions” have deemed Schmale as “persona non grata.”
[additional-authors]
June 2, 2021
Left, Matthias Schmale (Screenshot from YouTube/UNRWA)

The director for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the Gaza Strip is reportedly on a leave of absence after a recent interview acknowledging that Israel Defense Force (IDF) strikes were precise.

The viral clip, which came from a May 23 interview on Channel 12 News, featured UNRWA Gaza Director Matthias Schmale saying he does not “dispute” the IDF’s claim that their Gaza strikes during the recent escalation were precise. He also said there was “a huge sophistication” in the strikes, but criticized the strikes for being “more vicious” than during the 2014 Gaza War.

The Times of Israel reported that Schmale was “called back to Jerusalem for consultations and had decided to take an extended leave of absence”; Deputy Commissioner-General Leni Stenseth will be heading the Gaza division for the time being. The Jerusalem Post also reported that “Palestinian factions” have deemed Schmale as “persona non grata.”

American Jewish Committee Managing Director of Global Communications Avi Mayer tweeted, “Matthias Schmale has been forced to flee the territory and has apparently been suspended from his position because of this interview, which outraged Hamas and drew protests outside the organization’s offices.”

UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer tweeted, “Every U.N. official, journalist and NGO activist in Gaza knows that this (or worse) will be their fate if they too say the truth.” In a subsequent tweet, he pointed to the fact that “Palestinian groups” targeted a New York Times reporter who noted that Hamas arrested a Palestinian activist.

 

Israeli diplomat Galit Peleg also tweeted that the “persona non grata” designation was the result of Schmale’s refusal to parrot “#Hamas lies… when will the world wake up & #FreeGazaFromHamas?”

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

Print Issue: Got College? | Mar 29, 2024

With the alarming rise in antisemitism across many college campuses, choosing where to apply has become more complicated for Jewish high school seniors. Some are even looking at Israel.

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.