The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) criticized Israel after the country's foreign ministry launched an ad campaign portraying its workers as “terrorists.” UNRWA said that Israel is orchestrating “a global disinformation campaign” against the agency and putting the lives of humanitarian workers at risk.
Israel Launches Disinformation Campaign Against UNRWA
UNRWA accused Israel’s Foreign Ministry of running “a global disinformation campaign” after images of a masked man wearing the agency's logo in the colors of Hamas appeared on billboards near its headquarters in New York and Times Square.
One of the ads asked, “Do you support humanitarian aid free of terror?” while another read, “Paychecks to terrorists or humanitarian aid?”
The ads appear to match those found in Google's ad library, served by an account called the Israeli Government Advertising Agency. An Australian audience received at least eight ads featuring similar text and images.
In a statement published on December 4, UNRWA described the campaign as “the latest global effort by a U.N. member state to label a U.N. agency as a terror organization,” warning that it could “amount to hate speech.”
The agency further stated that this campaign is causing significant reputational damage and potentially putting the lives of its personnel at risk. UNRWA also called for regulations to curb the spread of such harmful and possibly dangerous messages.
Israel Has No Intention to Halt Defamation Campaign Against UNRWA
According to Ynet, Israel has no intention of halting the campaign, which reportedly reached millions within two days.
Sources claim the campaign aims to “amplify the campaign's content and reach, aiming to convince decision-makers of the need to find an alternative to the aid agency, whose many members are reportedly involved in “terrorist activities,” as demonstrated in the events of October 7.”
David Saranga, head of the digital department at Israel's Foreign Ministry and Deputy Director General for Public Diplomacy, responded to the U.N.’s statement, saying, “UNRWA has lost its legitimacy and can no longer function as an arm of the UN.”
Google Ads Discredit UNRWA Appear on Australian Outlets
ABC News Australia reported that ads accusing UNRWA of funding Hamas have targeted Australians on major digital news websites as part of a global campaign aimed at discrediting the agency.
The ABC confirmed that some of these ads appeared on the online version of The Australian, owned by News Corp.
Also, screenshots of a similar ad on the Australian Community Media-owned Canberra Times website shared on X since December 2.
According to the outlet, these defamation ads are also shared in multiple languages, including German, Italian, French, and Spanish, and appear to be part of a broader Israeli government campaign against the agency.
A spokesperson for UNRWA told ABC News, “These ads are the latest in a series of a wider disinformation campaign against UNRWA by the government of Israel. Through the spread of disinformation, this campaign aims at dismantling the agency.”
She added, “The damage goes beyond the reputation of the agency, it puts the lives of our UNRWA colleagues including those on the humanitarian frontline at a serious risk.”
Israeli Parliament Votes to Ban UNRWA in Israel
On October 28, Israel's parliament voted to ban the U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operating in Israel within 90 days, ignoring international calls to maintain the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
In a 92-10 vote, the Knesset blocked UNRWA from conducting “any activity” or offering services within Israel, including in annexed East Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank.
On November 4, Israel formally notified the United Nations of its intent to sever all ties with UNRWA. Aid organizations warn that this decision will worsen the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
The legislation could lead to the closure of UNRWA's East Jerusalem headquarters and prevent aid from reaching Gaza via Rafah.
If the law passes, Israel may target UNRWA facilities and its staff, crippling the agency’s ability to provide aid to Palestinians, especially as famine threatens the Gaza Strip.
Israel has long opposed UNRWA’s operations, which began after the 1948 expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to make way for the creation of Israel.
Since the beginning of Israel's war on Gaza, Israel killed over 251 UNRWA staff and hit two-thirds of its buildings in Gaza, according to the agency.
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