Nearly two years after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 253 hostages, audio recordings released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continue to fuel debates over the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)'s alleged involvement. One such recording, first made public in March 2024, features Yusef Suleiman Al-Hawajara, a UNRWA-employed teacher at a school in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, reportedly bragging about capturing a female Israeli hostage during the assault.
In the intercepted phone call, Al-Hawajara is heard laughing and telling a colleague, "We have female hostages [sabaya]. I captured one," while describing hiding the woman in an attic and expressing excitement about the events unfolding. He also references entering Israeli territory and makes inflammatory remarks about the violence, including "They shot them in the eyes." The term "sabaya," often translated as "female captives" or carrying connotations of enslavement in jihadist contexts, has drawn particular condemnation from Israeli officials and advocacy groups.
