UN Mourned Hamas Commander as Educator, UN Watch Reveals

The United Nations honored Emad Yousef Al-Samhouri, a UNRWA school principal in Gaza, as a fallen educator during its annual memorial ceremony. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lit a candle in his memory on June 8, 2026, noting that 136 UN employees had died in the past year, 80 of whom served with UNRWA in Gaza. Guterres emphasized that UN staff should never be targeted and that harming peacekeepers and humanitarian aid workers violates international law.

However, a Hamas video released by the organization revealed a starkly different reality. Al-Samhouri was not just a principal but a commander in Hamas's military wing, seen emerging from tunnels armed and ready for combat. Hamas eulogized him as a "living martyr" and a revered commander in their Muhammad al-Shamaali battalion. UN Watch, an organization monitoring UN activities, identified Al-Samhouri as the same UNRWA employee honored by the UN.

Further evidence of Al-Samhouri's deep ties to Hamas emerged from his social media activity and actions. He posted "exclusive" reports from Hamas fronts, praised the "resistance," and shared a video of children celebrating the 2014 kidnapping of three Israeli teenagers. He also took his students to visit the Hamas mayor of Rafah and hosted delegations from the terrorist organization at a local football club, which UN Watch stated received personal funding from Ismail Haniyeh. Summer camps at the club reportedly included weapons training for children.

This revelation follows a pattern of alleged Hamas infiltration within UNRWA. In October 2023, an UNRWA social worker was accused of kidnapping Jonathan Samurno and dragging his body into Gaza. A former hostage also testified being held by an UNRWA teacher, and another UNRWA employee was identified as a commander in the Nukhba force that led the massacre near Re'im. Israel had previously provided information on 12 UNRWA employees allegedly involved in the October 7th attacks.

Following the exposure of Al-Samhouri's dual role, UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer sent a sharp letter to Guterres and UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, demanding an apology and an independent investigation. Neuer questioned how many more UNRWA teachers would emerge from tunnels before the UN acknowledged terrorists were not just beneath schools but within them. The UN's response, issued on August 21st, did not include an apology. A spokesperson acknowledged the claims were concerning but stated the agency was unaware of Al-Samhouri's past at the time of the ceremony, shifting blame to Israel for not raising concerns about his inclusion on the annual staff list shared with Israeli authorities.