UNRWA Absolves Hamas For Using Palestinian Human Shields

by Michael Sharnoff  •  Jan 9, 2009 at 12:14 pm

http://www.jewishpolicycenter.org/blog/2009/01/unrwa-absolves-hamas-for-using-palestinian

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) condemned Israel for killing at least 40 Palestinians in one of its schools in Gaza on Tuesday. Yet, the condemnation failed to blame Hamas for using the school to fire dozens of rockets and mortars at Israel.

UNRWA spokesperson Christopher Gunness said the agency was "99.9 percent certain there were no militants or military activity in its school." Yet, according to the Associated Press, two Palestinians witnessed terrorists firing mortars near the school, where 350 people had gathered to get away from the shelling.

Blogger Michael J. Totten notes that it is morally reprehensible for the U.N. to deny that Hamas committed a war crime. Indeed, Hamas is responsible for every civilian killed at that school. But, UNRWA's refusal to condemn Hamas should come as no shock. Asaf Romirowsky observes in inFOCUS that UNRWA shared mutual interests with Hamas in Gaza, and that the two organizations have a dismaying history of cooperation.

Related Topics:  Hamas, United Nations  |  Michael Sharnoff receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free jewish policy center mailing list