Report finds UNESCO repeatedly identified Hamas, Islamic Jihad operatives as journalists
A new report by UN Watch found that the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization repeatedly identified Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives as journalists after they were killed in Gaza, even after evidence of…
Assessment
UN Watch has documented a pattern in which UNESCO designated individuals as journalists who were later confirmed by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad as their own operatives. The report alleges UNESCO has not corrected or withdrawn those identifications even after the militant groups publicly acknowledged the affiliations. This raises questions about the integrity of UNESCO's vetting process and whether its designations inadvertently lend legitimacy to combatants. The key development to watch is whether UNESCO will respond to the report or revise its procedures.