The United Nations agency that provides assistance and food aid to Palestinian refugees admits it has hired members of the terrorist group Hamas to help in its efforts. Peter Hansen, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for palestinian refugees (UNRWA), told the CBC he believes it likely that Hamas members receive paycheques from his organization. "Oh I am sure that there are Hamas members on the UNRWA payroll and I don't see that as a crime. Hamas as a political organization does not mean that every member is a militant and we do not do political vetting and exclude people from one persuasion as against another," Mr. Hansen said. "We demand of our staff, whatever their political persuasion is, that they behave in accordance with UN standards and norms for neutrality."
Canada contributes roughly $10-million annually to UNRWA. Canadian officials did not offer any immediate comment on the specifics of the CBC report, saying the UN agency has a long record of humanitarian service in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and that the organization should speak for itself. "But I would say that as far as Canada's concerned, Hamas is a terrorist organization," said a spokesman for Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew. The federal government designated Hamas as a terrorist group in 2002, and several North American charities linked to the group have since been outlawed.
The uproar concerning the UN's rumoured ties to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah -- which also provide food, welfare and schooling to Palestinians -- erupted this past week when the Israeli Defence Force released a pair of videotapes they claimed as proof that UN ambulances have been used to ferry munitiions and gunmen throughout the occupied territories. The Israeli government is also insisting Mr. Hansen, who is one of the UN's top officials in Gaza, be immediately stripped of his duties and fired. Israel has previously accused Foreign Affairs Mr. Hansen of ''blatant anti-Israel bias'' and turning a blind eye to Palestinian militants' use of UN ambulances. The Foreign Affairs spokesman added he wasn't aware whether the Israeli government had asked for Canada's support in pressing their claims to the world body.
The revelations come amid a renewed offensive by Israeli troops against
terrorist targets in Gaza. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed yesterday Israel will keep troops in Gaza indefinitely to prevent Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli towns. At least seven more Palestinian fighters were killed -- bringing the total to 60 since the start of Operation Days of Penitence. Mr. Sharon told Israeli radio the Israel Defence Force action had no time limit. "I have directed the Defence Minister to do everything possible," he said. "The IDF is taking needed measures to ensure the peace of Israel's citizens. That's what it has to do, and that's what will be done." Last week two Israeli toddlers were killed when rockets landed in the western Negev town of Sderot, an attack that sparked the operation.