UN Food Agency Fires Director Over Criticism of Israeli Policy

A senior official at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated he was dismissed for criticizing Israeli policy in Gaza, with the organization's leadership reportedly threatening further dismissals for political activism. Ben Davis, the FAO director, told journalists that he received notification in July that his contract would not be renewed after 26 years of service. The stated reason for his termination was a violation of impartiality rules, stemming from his organization of moments of silence to express solidarity with Gaza residents facing food shortages. Davis also faced criticism for a May report on food security and humanitarian law, from which leadership demanded the removal of any references to humanitarian law.

Israel has consistently denied accusations of creating artificial famine in Gaza, attributing responsibility to Hamas and asserting that sufficient supplies are entering the enclave. Israeli authorities have frequently criticized UN international structures for alleged bias. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu publicly warned staff against engaging in political actions and human rights advocacy in the workplace, emphasizing that specialized agencies exist in Geneva for rights protection and that employees must strictly adhere to the organization's charter and internal regulations. He stressed the organization's readiness to take personnel actions against employees who violate established laws and regulations.

Ben Davis expressed significant concern over these leadership statements and plans for further dismissals. He noted that weekly silent protests he previously organized had attracted hundreds of participants, though numbers have recently declined. FAO representatives have not yet provided official comments on the incident.