Israel’s envoy accuses ‘UN mobsters’ of threatening NGOs that support new Gaza aid plan, does not provide specifics

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon accuses the United Nations of deliberately undermining the new US and Israel-backed aid mechanism in the Gaza Strip through corrupt means, in a meeting of the UN Security Council.

Claiming that he has acquired new “shocking information,” Danon tells the council that the UN “is using threats, intimidation and retaliation against NGOs that choose to participate in the new humanitarian mechanism.”

He asserts that a number of “major international NGOs” were punished by the UN after indicating that they would take part in the new aid initiative and “ignore the UN’s calls for a boycott.”

“The UN’s response was brutal. It was Mafia-like,” the envoy asserts. “Without any discussion, without a due process, the UN removed those NGOs from the shared aid database,” a central system for tracking aid deliveries into Gaza established through a UN General Assembly resolution.

Danon, in his speech, does not provide any hard evidence or the names of the NGOs he alleges were targeted.

Upon request for further information to back the envoy’s claims, Danon’s office tells The Times of Israel that it is aware of a certain number of NGOs that the UN worked to prevent from cooperating with the aid plan, but that this information can only be provided by the UN directly.

The UN has not immediately responded to a request for comment.

The new aid initiative became operational this week, partially replacing the UN-led framework that had previously managed humanitarian assistance in Gaza, following Israel’s decision to lift a nearly three-month aid blockade on the strip.

The new system, meant to redirect supplies away from Hamas control, has drawn heavy criticism from the UN and various international actors, who argue it falls short of addressing the dire humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Reiterating his claim that “UN mobsters” are committing “the gravest violation of the UN’s own principles,” through the “extortion of well-meaning NGOs that refuse to kiss the ring,” Danon urges the UN not to let “ego get in the way” and to cooperate with the new aid mechanism.

“It has begun and it is operational. Shift your focus from dramatic press statements and intimidating NGOs to the work you are supposed to be doing,” he demands.