In Feb. 2017, UNRWA's Pierre Krahenbuhl met Hamas' Ali Baraka & Islamic Jihad's Abu Imad al-Rifai, who sent suicide bombers to kill troops in Iraq. 

In a clandestine meeting in February 2017, former UNRWA Commissioner Pierre Krahenbuhl engaged with leaders of various Palestinian terrorist organizations, reassuring them that “we are one” and that “no one can separate us,” according to a recent exposé by UN Watch.

The meeting took place in Beirut and included key figures such as UNRWA Chief in Lebanon Hakam Shawan, Hamas leader Ali Baraka, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) leader Abu Imad Al-Rifai, and Salah Al-Youssef from the PFLP, along with representatives from other Palestinian factions like the DFLP, PFLP – Central Command, and Fatah Al-Intifada.

Baraka, who managed Hamas's foreign relations with Iran and Syria, has recently been designated by the U.S. for his involvement in the organization. Al-Rifai has previously bragged about sending suicide bombers to attack U.S. and British troops in Baghdad.

SECRETIVE DISCUSSIONS AND POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES

Krahenbuhl appeared aware of the controversial nature of such meetings, as he urged attendees to keep the discussions private to avoid damaging UNRWA’s credibility and risking funding from donor nations. He emphasized the importance of a “spirit of partnership,” inviting the leaders to voice their concerns about UNRWA’s decisions, and suggested that they could meet “a thousand times” to discuss modifications or reversals of policies.

He stated, “Your cooperation with us in security matters and your commitment to not closing UNRWA institutions, facilities, schools, or offices also completes this partnership,” concluding that achieving this unity would mean they are inseparable.

This revelation sheds light on the complex and controversial relationships between UNRWA leadership and entities labeled as terrorist organizations by various international bodies.

UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer noted that Baraka regularly interacted with UNRWA regional directors, some of whom acknowledged Hamas's anniversaries. 

The scrutiny of UNRWA's ties to Hamas intensified following the October 7th Massacre, with reports of UNRWA staff actively participating in the violence and promoting antisemitic materials in educational settings. Additionally, an UNRWA teacher was involved in organizing anti-Israel protests in the Netherlands while leading a Hamas-affiliated group there.