Reports have emerged that UNRWA staff are engaging in the theft and resale of humanitarian aid, with Gazans voicing their frustration over the issue. According to multiple accounts published by Palestinians in a chatroom linked to UNRWA, employees are involved in the illicit trade of aid, while those who attempt to report such activities face retaliation.

The revelations shed light on the deep-seated discontent among staff members, who claim that senior UNRWA officials are complicit in the abuses and that the agency has failed to address the issue. This comes at a time when UNRWA Commissioner-General Phillipe Lazzarini has called for increased direct cash assistance to Gazans, citing accessibility issues despite the availability of food.

Operating the chatroom is Haitham al-Sayyed, a former UNRWA employee removed from his position in 2016 after publicly criticizing the agency for concealing a map that denied Israel’s existence. Despite his dismissal, al-Sayyed remains influential among current staff members, who turn to him with their grievances in hopes of prompting action from UNRWA’s top brass.

Among the allegations shared in the chatroom are instances of aid diversion and embezzlement, with employees reportedly hoarding aid meant for distribution to displaced persons. Messages detailing incidents of theft and corruption paint a picture of widespread misconduct within the organization, implicating even high-ranking officials.