An Israeli mother whose son was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 assault demanded answers from the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) during a Thursday event.
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The exchange took place during Lausanne, Switzerland’s National Day celebrations where UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini delivered the keynote address. The event drew significant backlash due to the agency’s connection to Hamas’ terrorist activities.
Ayelet Samerano lost her son Yonatan, who was taken hostage and killed in Gaza by the terrorist organization, which includes members of UNRWA in its ranks. “An UNRWA worker kidnapped my son. A social worker for a so-called humanitarian organization kidnapped my son,” she exclaimed.
“Mr. Lazzarini, look me in the eyes and answer me now. Where is my son? Bring him back home,” the mother pleaded.
Samerano noted that her son “was taken from us 300 days ago by Mr. Lazzarini’s employee” and questioned why he should be honored while her son’s body remains in Gaza.
While she was crying out tonight, Samerano said th at for a moment she caught Lazarrini’s glance, and that he was clearly disturbed to see her.
“I saw his eyes glare at me, as if to say, I know her, did she come even here? And he had a sly smile.”
Lazzarini’s invitation was a controversial move on the part of the city’s mayor. It prompted appeals, letters, and petitions to rescind the invitation. Some lawmakers boycotted the proceedings in protest.
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“By inviting the head of the controversial UN agency for Palestinians, which was rebuked three times last year by majority votes of the Swiss Parliament’s National Council, Lausanne mayor Grégoire Junod is dangerously dividing the population, and doing so on a joyous occasion that is meant to unite all of us,” said UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer.
The UNRWA is the defendant in at least six legal actions in Canada, France, and the United States. The lawsuits allege that the agency actively promotes terrorism against Israel. Switzerland temporarily suspended funding for the agency after an ethics report that implicated one of its leaders in a corruption scandal.
RedState’s Bonchie reported that the UNRWA has been a close ally to Hamas, helping the terrorist group teach antisemitism in its schools and allowing the group to receive aid to continue its violent operations in Gaza and Israel. The United States froze funding to the agency in response to reports about its ties to terrorism.
Related: NEW: United Nations Directly Implicated in October 7th Attacks, U.S. State Dept Freezes Funding
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The UNRWA remains under intense scrutiny despite its denials of wrongdoing. The United Nations has also been widely criticized over its bias against Israel and its calls for the Jewish State to cease its effort to eliminate Hamas in Gaza, even after the group slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis on October 7.
Lazzarini appears to be reticent about addressing these criticisms and allegations. “We have repeatedly asked Mr. Lazzarini to meet, yet he has always refused. The police told me that he refused to see me in Lausanne, even as we have alarming new evidence about terror ties implicating his senior staff,” Neuer said.