Hamas supporters force the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for “Palestinian Refugees” (UNRWA) in Gaza to apologize after admitting that Israel launched “precise” and “sophisticated” airstrikes against Hamas terrorist targets.
Matthias Schmale caused an uproar among supporters of the Islamic terrorist group Hamas after lauding the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for their conduct during the 11-day operation to counter Palestinian rocket fire on Israeli towns and cities.
“I’m not a military expert but I would not dispute that. I also have the impression that there is a huge sophistication in the way the Israeli military struck over the last 11 days,” Schmale said in a television interview on Sunday.
Islamist Hamas, which controls Gaza, demanded the UN open a probe against Schmale for debunking their narrative of being the victims of Israeli aggression — after starting the conflict by firing thousands of rockets at Israeli civilians. Other Palestinian NGOs, angered by the UN official’s honest admission, also joined Hamas’s call.
The Times of Israel reported UNRWA Gaza-chief apology after massive Hamas pressure:
The head of the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency in Gaza apologized on Tuesday for comments he made to Israeli TV in which he said that IDF strikes on the Strip appeared to be “precise” and “sophisticated.”UNRWA Gaza director Matthias Schmale’s interview on Sunday with Channel 12 prompted outrage from the Hamas terror group that rules Gaza and other Palestinian organizations, who accused him of exonerating Israel for the death of civilians in the 11 days of fighting that ended with a ceasefire on Friday.In the interview, Schmale was asked about the IDF’s assertation that its military strikes were very precise. He responded: “I’m not a military expert but I would not dispute that. I also have the impression that there is a huge sophistication in the way the Israeli military struck over the last 11 days.”He also said that there were not currently any shortages of food, medicine or water in Gaza as Israel had reopened the crossings. (…)Hamas said in a statement that his “comments are a complete distortion in favor of the Zionists including an attempt to exonerate the Occupation of the murder of 254 Palestinians, more than 40% of them children, women and the elderly.”It called on UNRWA to investigate him and issue an apology.Other Palestinian groups also protested.In a joint statement on Tuesday, several Palestinian rights groups said Schmale’s comments “completely ignored the crimes committed during the latest Israeli offensive against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.” (…)It slammed Schmale for “indirectly praising the precision and sophistication of the Israeli army, when Israel is in fact constantly committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against the Palestinian people.”Later Tuesday, Schmale issued an apology.
While falsely accusing the Israeli military of misconduct, pro-Palestinian groups and activists deliberately covered up the Hamas war crimes. For example, out of 4500 rockets Hamas and its jihadi allies fired at Israeli civilians, more than 600 landed in Gaza, killing innocent civilians. Also, Hamas deliberately places its command centers, rocket launch sites, and ammunition depots in schools, hospitals, and residential neighborhoods. That is why IDF took every possible precaution to avoid civilians casualties — informing Gazans to vacate marked sites, and thus forfeiting the element of surprise and allowing the terrorists to escape.
The “Palestinian rights” groups are known for their dubious ties to Hamas and other terrorists organizations. In addition, they have a history of colluding with the terrorist groups, peddling their anti-Israel propaganda, and siphoning off millions of dollars of Western aid money.
Given the UNRWA’s penetration by Hamas and other terrorist groups, it is natural that its Gaza chief quickly succumbed to Palestinian pressure.
The UNRWA, largely funded by the United States and European countries, also has a checkered record concerning Palestinian terrorism and incitement. For example, the UNRWA-run schools in Gaza have often been accused of indoctrinating Palestinian children in the ideology of jihad terrorism and martyrdom.
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