Black Ribbon on UNRWA’s Logo Is Not to Mourn Sinwar’s Assassination
The Claim
Just in case it wasn't clear to you what is @UNRWA , they added a black band to their logo yesterday! Mourning the death of #Sinwar, the head a terror organisation and the mastermind behind #October7thMassacre! What has @UN become under @antonioguterres ?! This is grotesque.
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Following the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, pro-Israel widely alleged that UNRWA had added a black ribbon to its logo on social media and its official websites to mourn Sinwar's death.
An Israeli official shared a screenshot of UNRWA's official X page, claiming, “Just in case it wasn't clear to you what is @UNRWA , they added a black band to their logo yesterday! Mourning the death of #Sinwar, the head a terror organisation and the mastermind behind #October7thMassacre! What has @UN become under @antonioguterres ?! This is grotesque.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral claim and found it to be fake.
UNRWA has not recently added a black ribbon to its logo on social media and websites.
UNRWA Displayed a Black Ribbon in October 2023, Not Recently
Contrary to Israeli trolls' viral claim, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) did not add a black ribbon to its logo in mourning of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
The black ribbon was added in October 2023 to honor UNRWA staff members who were killed in Gaza during the conflict.
UNRWA’s communications director, Juliette Touma, clarified on X that the ribbon was a tribute to 20 UNRWA workers killed in Gaza, not connected to Sinwar’s death.
The UNRWA’s official website also published the communications director’s post in an official statement on October 18, 2024.
Israel Systematic Targeting of UNRWA
Israel continues its systematic targeting of UNRWA facilities in Gaza. According to UNRWA’s situation report from October 16, 228 UNRWA staff members have been killed since the war began.
Since the start of the war, 464 incidents affecting UNRWA premises and the people within them have been reported, with some locations experiencing multiple strikes. These include at least 74 incidents of military use or interference at UNRWA sites.
A total of 190 UNRWA installations have been impacted by munitions or armed actor interference.
UNRWA estimates that at least 563 IDPs sheltering in its installations have been killed and at least 1,790 injured.
Since the onset of the war, Misbar's investigative team has been working tirelessly to counter Israel's relentless misinformation campaign targeting UNRWA.
Hamas Confirms Yahya Sinwar’s Assassination
On Thursday, the Israeli military announced that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was killed during a surprise firefight in Rafah, southern Gaza.
The military confirmed Sinwar's identity through DNA testing, dental examinations, and other forensic inquiries.
Israeli military and media sources frequently claimed that the Hamas leader was hiding deep in Gaza's tunnels alongside hostages taken during the October 7 attack.
Hamas confirmed Sinwar's death, with Khalil Hayya, head of Hamas in Gaza, stating in a televised address on Friday that the 62-year-old leader was “steadfast, brave and intrepid,” emphasizing that he “sacrificed his life to the cause of our liberation.”
Sinwar was appointed as the group’s leader on August 6, succeeding former political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran on July 31.
Following the assassination of Sinwar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the soldiers and emphasized that, despite the significance of the victory, it does not mark the end of the war. He stated, "The war, my dear ones, is not over yet. It is difficult, and it is costing us dearly."
Israel's relentless genocidal campaign killed over 42,519 people and wounded 99,637 since October 7, 2023.
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