Israel’s military announced Thursday that it had killed Mohammad Abu Itiwi, a Hamas commander who participated in the October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel. Itiwi, also an employee of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), had been linked to both the killing and kidnapping of Israeli civilians.
UNRWA, which has faced Israeli accusations of harboring Hamas members within its staff, confirmed that Itiwi was employed by the agency since July 2022. Israel had previously sent a list of 100 UNRWA staff it alleged were members of armed groups, including Hamas, but UNRWA has not yet received further evidence from Israel.
UNRWA provides essential services to millions of Palestinians, though its relationship with Israel has worsened since the Gaza conflict, with Israel now calling for the agency to be dissolved.