Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told UN ambassadors in Jerusalem on Wednesday that the UN Refugee Agency (UNRWA) is “totally infiltrated” by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, AFP and Agerpres reported.

“UNRWA has been completely infiltrated by Hamas” and “we need other UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations” in its place, Israel’s prime minister said, while the agency is accused by Israel of the alleged involvement of some of its staff in the October 7 attack. which led to the suspension of funding to the UN agency by major donor countries.

UNRWA “was at the service of Hamas, its schools and many other things,” the prime minister said during the meeting, a video replay of which was released by his office.

“I say this with great regret, because we hope that there will be an objective and constructive body that will help. We need such a body in Gaza today, but UNRWA is not that court,” he added.

The remarks came as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and his humanitarian coordinator Martin Griffiths defended UNRWA on Wednesday, saying it was the “backbone” and “beating heart” of aid in Gaza.

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