Chilling: UN Employee Laughs about Kidnapping a Female Hostage on October 7th | WATCH

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.

The recording was part of a broader IDF intelligence release implicating at least 14 UNRWA staffers in the October 7 massacre, including another teacher affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad who claimed to be "inside with the Jews." Israeli intelligence estimates suggest around 450 UNRWA employees in Gaza have ties to terror groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, with some 10-12% of the agency's Gaza workforce allegedly involved. These claims led to temporary funding suspensions by major donors, including the United States, Germany, and the European Union, though some have since resumed support amid humanitarian concerns in Gaza.

UNRWA has repeatedly denied systemic complicity, stating that it fired implicated employees based on Israeli allegations and emphasizing that any involvement by a small number of staff does not reflect the agency's overall mission. In a statement following the initial release, UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma urged entities with evidence to share it with an ongoing independent U.N. investigation, adding that the agency "encourages any entity that has any information on the very serious allegations against UNRWA staff to share it."

Unfortunately for UNRWA, additional evidence, such as video footage shows showing UNRWA vehicles used in abductions and hostages held in UNRWA facilities or by staff.

The controversy has persisted into 2025, with Israeli legislation passed in October 2024 restricting UNRWA operations in Israel-controlled areas, including potential bans on contact with the agency.