UNRWA refutes Israeli media claims of staff member's death alongside Yahya Sinwar

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has refuted reports from Israeli media that a staff member was killed alongside Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.

The allegations were dismissed as part of a disinformation effort aimed at undermining the credibility of the agency and its personnel.

Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, responded to the claims in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), confirming that the staff member mentioned in the reports is alive and currently residing in Egypt.

"I confirm that the staff member in question is alive. He currently lives in Egypt where he traveled with his family in April through the Rafah border," Lazzarini stated.

He condemned the spread of false information, which he said was being used to discredit the organization.

The clarification follows an announcement from the Israeli military earlier Thursday, claiming to have killed Sinwar during a military operation in Gaza.

Previously in September, Israel defended its airstrike on a UN school-turned-shelter in central Gaza, asserting that six of the 18 individuals killed, who were UN aid workers, were members of Hamas

Israeli army spokesperson Avichae Adree described the incident as the “elimination” of Sinwar, though there were no indications that hostages were found in the area where he was allegedly killed.

Yahya Sinwar was appointed Hamas' political leader in August, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran in July 2024.

Sinwar's death marks another significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli military invasion in Gaza come in the wake of a Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited a violent and sustained Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip.

The conflict has resulted in over 42,400 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, according to local health authorities.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, the Israeli offensive has continued, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis amid shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies due to the ongoing blockade.

Israel now faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.