Nihaya Awad lists herself as an UNRWA employee. She also posted a letter of appreciation signed by Director of UNRWA Affairs Gwynn Lewis and a Certificate of Appreciation from UNRWA confirming her UNRWA employee status, as well as a photo of herself holding the certificate. She endorses Hamas and incites children to violence.
Endorses Hamas and Incites Children
This post congratulating Hamas for its victory was published right after the May 2021 war when Hamas fired 4,000 rockets at Israeli civilians. The post endorses Hamas and incites children to violence with an image of a Hamas militant in full uniform instructing a child, also in Hamas uniform. Both are armed. The militant is pointing at the horizon, presumably towards Israel. The image encourages the exploitation of children as child soldiers, which is a form of child abuse and a violation of international law.
In the accompanying text, Awad congratulates and praises Hamas, and that is how her Facebook friends understood the post. One commented: “Greetings to the people of Gaza, Blessed victory.” Another wrote: “In the name of Allah, one victory after the other, Palestine will be fully liberated.”
TRANSLATION
We testify by Allah that you have demonstrated your faithfulness… and conveyed the message… and have won for your Al-Aqsa… and have broken your enemy’s nose… and have rekindled hope in your faith… may Allah accept your obedience… and raise your matter…
