UN Relief Chief Martin Griffiths told a representative from Sky News on Wednesday that he did not consider Hamas to be a terrorist group.
Asked about the feasibility of Israel’s military goal to eliminate Hamas and disallow the terrorist group from having any governing say in Gaza, Griffiths responded “Hamas is not a terrorist group for us, as you know, it is a political movement. But, I think it is very very difficult to dislodge these groups without a negotiated solution; which includes their aspirations.
“I cannot think of an example offhand of a place where a victory through warfare has succeeded against a well-entrenched group, terrorist or otherwise.”
Speaking of Hamas’s October 7 attack, Griffiths said he had “total understanding” of the “trauma” it had caused Israel but that Israel would need to build a relationship with its neighbors regardless.
Discussions on military operations in Rafah
Griffiths also claimed that the United Nations was struggling to get aid into Gaza and that Palestinians had nowhere safe to evacuate to now that Israel had begun operations in Rafah.
During the interview, Griffiths insisted that pondering whether Israel would operate in Rafah was an issue that kept him up at night.
Asked if he was in discussions with Israeli officials over the issue of operations in Rafah, Griffiths responded that Israel “to their credit” had daily discussions with UN officials on the issue and that Israeli officials had asked the UN to be involved in evacuating civilians to a safe location.
Griffiths affirmed that the United Nations would not participate in the forced evacuation of Palestinian civilians into safe zones.
Griffith did not mention the two hostages the IDF rescued from Rafah, proving that Hamas was carrying out their illegal activities within a heavily populated civilian area.
Describing why he felt that Gaza was the worst humanitarian crisis he had witnessed, exceeding those he had seen in Syria, Griffiths said that it was because “people can’t escape, they are blocked in.”
Reaction to Griffith’s comments
Government spokesman Elyon Levy condemned the comments by Griffiths, posting on X that “Martin Griffiths, @UNReliefChief, denies Hamas is a terrorist organization. No wonder he is abusing his power to save Hamas’s skin after the deadliest terror attack since 9/11 instead of demanding its surrender.”
Martin Griffiths, @UNReliefChief, denies Hamas is a terrorist organization. No wonder he is abusing his power to save Hamas' skin after the deadliest terror attack since 9/11 instead of demanding its surrender. pic.twitter.com/0FIA3fmtDU
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) February 15, 2024
Israel’s national X account also commented on the interview, posting “According to @UNReliefChief Hamas is not a terrorist organization.
“They are a political organization, which from time to time murders, rapes and kidnaps civilians to let off steam.
“What an abomination the @UN has become.”
According to @UNReliefChief Hamas is not a terrorist organization.They are a political organization, who from time to time murders, rapes and kidnaps civilians to let off steam. What an abomination the @UN has become. pic.twitter.com/E6cEFjgMmd
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) February 15, 2024
The response by Israel’s national spokesperson and Israel comes amid fracturing relations between Israel and the UN. The United Nations’ UNRWA is currently being investigated after staff were said to have involvement in Hamas’s October 7 terror attacks.
More recently, the IDF discovered a Hamas tunnel below the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza.
The UN has also repeatedly been accused of anti-Israel bias and organizations, like UN Watch, have been established to address the issue. UN Watch has found that on multiple occasions UNRWA facilities have promoted terrorism and antisemitism.
Gilad Erdan, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, responded to the commentary.
"The UN's support for Hamas is finally revealed on live television...The UN Under-Secretary-General claims live that Hamas is 'not a terrorist organization but a political movement.' Is the barbaric murder of hundreds of civilians not terrorism?"
The UN’s pro-Hamas stance is finally exposed on live TV. In the words of a UN Under-Secretary-General “Hamas is NOT a terrorist group for us, it’s a political movement.”Is the brutal murder of hundreds of civilians, not terror?Is the systematic rape of women not terror?Is… pic.twitter.com/IDGBahkpw3
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) February 15, 2024
He added, "Is systematic rape of women not terrorism? Is attempting to commit genocide not terrorism? This is the face of the UN these days: an organization that whitewashes terrorism, promotes Hamas and blames the victims. The UN has lost all credibility. Mr. Under-Secretary-General, you cannot say that you are acting in the name of 'humanitarian' matters. You are a collaborator of Hamas!"
Joanie Margulies contributed to this report.