Daughter of former Gaza hostage confronts UN over UNRWA funding despite Hamas ties

Neta Heiman Mina, daughter of former Gaza hostage Ditza Heiman, confronted the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva regarding continued funding for UNRWA despite its alleged ties to Hamas. Mina stated that her 84-year-old mother was held captive for 48 days by an UNRWA teacher. She questioned, "how could you place the education of Gaza's next generation with someone involved in holding an elderly woman hostage?"

• Mina highlighted that other UNRWA employees were connected to the October 7 attacks and kidnappings, citing the case of Suhail al-Hindi, a Hamas member who oversaw 8,000 teachers in Gaza.
• Her statement followed a UN Watch report claiming UNRWA overstated its reform progress, with only 13 of 50 recommended changes genuinely implemented, despite the agency's assertion of 41 completed reforms.
• The recommendations stemmed from an independent review commissioned after revelations of UNRWA employees' involvement in the October 7 massacre led to a temporary suspension of $450 million in donor funding.