UNRWA Gaza Director Takes “Extended Leave of Absence”

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.”

Israeli media reports that UNRWA Gaza director 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. https://t.co/Jt4q0vQTDq

— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) June 2, 2021

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.

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. https://t.co/eOyJdyhuHV

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) June 2, 2021

Journalists come under attack if they report what Hamas doesn't like. New York Times Gaza reporter Iyad Abuhweila was targeted by Palestinian groups for reporting on @Hind_Gaza's role in Hamas' arrest of activist Rami Aman. Hamas named NYT in this video: https://t.co/mIprkTgpM6

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) June 2, 2021

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?”

Palestinians declare #UNRWA #Gaza director ‘persona non grata'.
Why? Because instead of quoting #Hamas lies, he was telling the media: "IDF strikes appeared to be precise and sophisticated"

When will the world wake up & #FreeGazaFromHamas?https://t.co/rrXzbY3WxR

— Galit Peleg (@GalitPeleg) June 2, 2021