The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has called for the spreading of unsubstantiated claims about it to be immediately stopped.

In a statement, it referred to a post on social media that “claims that there is an alleged connection between an Israeli hostage held in Gaza and a UNRWA school teacher”.

“Defamation attacks and the spread of misinformation about UNRWA — from any side — directly endanger the lifesaving operations of the agency and its staff operating on the ground,” the UNRWA stated.

It added, “These harmful and presumably gratuitous acts must stop, immediately.”