The Follow-up Committee of the National and Islamic Forces in Gaza announced on Wednesday the departure of the Director of Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in Gaza, Matias Shamali, and his deputy, David Debul after they were declared “unwanted figures” in the Strip.

The committee indicated in a press statement received by Safa, that Shamali and his deputy were "a major cause of the suffering of thousands of Palestinian refugees and UNRWA employees in the Gaza Strip," stressing the refusal of their return to the Strip.

As a result, the committee announced the cancellation of the event that was scheduled to be organized tomorrow morning, Thursday, in front of the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza, to demand the departure of Shamali and his deputy in the Gaza Strip without return.

The committee called on UNRWA Commissioner-General Philip Lazzarini to appoint a new director and deputy director of the UN agency in Gaza "who will be responsible for serving the 1.4 million Palestinian refugees in the Strip and understand the essential needs of refugees and employees" in Gaza.

It stressed its adherence to UNRWA and its continuation to provide its services to the masses of refugees wherever they are until the implementation of UN Resolution 194 to return to their homes.

The Committee thanked everyone who made an effort and worked to put pressure on Shamali and his deputy to leave Gaza, noting that his three-year period witnessed "mismanagement, job oppression, reduced services, and injustice to refugees and employees."

Shamali said in an interview with Hebrew Channel 12 that he "does not doubt the accuracy of the bombing carried out by the Israeli army on Gaza and sees the high level of professionalism in its bombing over the past 11 days."

Shamali's statements caused anger in the Strip, and several demonstrations and stands were organized against him, calling for him to leave the Strip without returning.