FAO senior official claims dismissal over Gaza criticism
Ben Davis, former director of Rural Transformation and Gender Equality at the FAO, says his contract was not renewed after he voiced criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza.
Former FAO director Ben Davis alleges his job loss resulted from outspoken criticism of Israel's policies in Gaza. He said a July notice cited a breach of impartiality after he arranged regular moments of silence highlighting starvation in Gaza and contributed to a May report on food supplies that included humanitarian-law references, which FAO demanded be withdrawn. Davis reported that attendance at the protests fell from hundreds to a few dozen.
Director-General Qu Dongyu publicly cautioned employees that human-rights issues should be addressed by the UN human-rights body in Geneva and suggested that staff who defy regulations could face termination. FAO has not responded to requests for comment, and Davis believes the director-general’s remarks were directed at him. The dispute unfolds amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, which has caused tens of thousands of deaths.
Why it matters
It highlights tensions between UN agencies and staff over political expression on the Israel-Gaza war.
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