UNRWA official expresses understanding to Sinwar

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Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar met with UNRWA Deputy Commissioner-General Leni Stenseth at his office. He discussed the repercussions of UNRWA operations in Gaza Director Matthias Schmale's statements to an Israeli channel, in which he gave justifications to the aggression.

The two parties discussed the Deputy Director of UNRWA in the Gaza Strip, David de Bold, which caused an outrage among all the people of the Strip and its political and societal components.

Sinwar highlighted the national, factional, popular stance against Schmale and his deputy, "This is not related to our historical, substantive, and positive stance towards UNRWA. This stance is personally related to them, and a reaction to their serious transgression of the role entrusted to them, and the mandate that was given to them, in serving the Palestinian refugees."

Stenseth affirmed her understanding of the recent outrage of all the Palestinian people, expressing her solidarity, and offering her condolences to all the Palestinian people on behalf of the agency.

She indicated that Schmale's statements to the Israeli channel could not be defended in any way.

She stressed, "The importance of the continuation of cooperation to assure that UNRWA keeps working on serving thousands of Palestinian refugees, especially in this sensitive situation," indicating that both she and UNRWA Commissioner-General "have been working around the clock lately to find a way to alleviate the suffering of refugees in particular and Palestinians in general as well as developing the work of the agency and strengthening its leadership with qualified and competent people."

UNRWA Director for Gaza Operations Matthias Schmale made a comment to an Israeli channel about the 11-day Israeli shelling of the besieged Gaza Strip, saying that it was "precise" and "sophisticated," according to the British Middle East Eye website.

Schmale said, "I’m not a military expert, but I would not dispute that. I also have the impression that there is a huge sophistication in the way the Israeli military struck over the last 11 days," adding, "So yes they did not hit, with some exceptions, civilian targets, but the viciousness and ferocity of the strikes were heavily felt."

International Committee of the Red Cross Director General Robert Mardini continues his three-day visit to the Gaza Strip.

The visit comes within the framework of reviewing the needs of the population most affected by the recent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, which killed and injured hundreds and destroyed homes, buildings, and infrastructure.