A new and unprecedented association among UN staff, under the name "UN Staff for Gaza", is stirring echoes in the organization's corridors. The association, which defines itself as a "private initiative" not officially affiliated with the UN, has already succeeded in enlisting prominent names in its ranks. Among them is the former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who agreed to serve as honorary chairman.
In his letter of joining, Ki-moon stated that it is a vital initiative in light of "acts that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity against the civilian population in Gaza".
Despite the official definition, behind the group stand senior employees in the UN bureaucracy, including Maher Nasser, Assistant Secretary-General for Global Communications, who claimed to participate in advising the organization "privately", but echoed posts that claimed Israel brought starvation and blocks humanitarian aid to Gaza, and Dali ten Hove, Political Affairs Officer, who echoed a post that claimed Israel is committing genocide.
The association's chairman is Andrew Gilmour, former Deputy Secretary-General for Human Rights, who echoed posts that accuse Israel of genocide and starvation in Gaza. According to Dr. Eve Epstein, who previously served as the communications advisor to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Craig Mokhiber, who has served as director of the New York office of the Human Rights Commission, plays a behind-the-scenes role.
After he was forced to leave his position at the beginning of the war due to publishing several posts very hostile to Israel, he sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in which he wrote that "the settler-colonial project has reached its final stage – the extermination of the remnant of Palestinian life", and called for establishing one state "in all historic Palestine".
The new initiative has already managed to provoke a sharp response from Israel. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, sent an official letter to the UN Secretary-General about two weeks ago, in which he warned that the group's activity constitutes "a blatant violation of the neutrality rules" of the organization's employees. Danon accused the group of unauthorized use of the UN name and symbol, exploitation of its facilities for political activity, and creation of a hostile atmosphere that endangers Jewish and Israeli employees. According to him, an investigation and prohibition of the activity are required, but for the time being, his letter has not been answered.
On Tuesday, another meeting is planned at the initiative of the group, when a notice distributed in the UN offices in Vienna called for a general assembly of UN staff. At the meeting, Francesca Albanese, the anti-Israel UN rapporteur who was accused of antisemitism, is expected to participate who is expected to present the latest report she wrote, "From Occupation Economy to Genocide Economy", which claimed, among other things, that organizations with ties to Israel may be considered partners in genocide. The association's chairman, Gilmour, is also expected to participate, who will explain how, according to the notice's language, the employees can "create change".
According to Dr. Epstein, "almost two years after the horrors of October 7, it is inconceivable that a group of employees at the UN would exploit the mantle of neutrality to strengthen the hand of those seeking more bloodshed". She added, "By using UN symbols, 'UN Staff for Gaza' has turned the world's most important diplomatic institution into a stage for activism that legitimizes terror, abandons the principle of impartiality, and puts Jewish and Israeli employees in real danger".
