Story perspectives

FAO chief orders Benjamin Davis dismissal over Gaza activism

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 7:59 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Israeli Complaint to FAO

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu ordered the dismissal of former UN food agency official Benjamin Davis, effective September 30, in Rome.
The Israeli mission lodged a formal complaint with the FAO after Davis’s Gaza-hunger seminar and a moment-of-silence event.
Davis appealed the termination, arguing it breached due-process standards.
Qu Dongyu told the 28th Committee on Forestry in Rome that the FAO would not tolerate political activism.

Left

FAO Censors Gaza Paper

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu ordered the dismissal of former UN food agency official Benjamin Davis, effective September 30, at the Rome headquarters.
The firing is presented as silencing staff who highlighted Gaza’s hunger crisis and broader human-rights concerns.
FAO removed a briefing paper calling Gaza’s hunger a violation of the right to food.
Qu Dongyu warned he would fire staff, claiming human-rights issues belong to another UN agency.

1 of 2

Israeli Complaint to FAO

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu ordered the dismissal of former UN food agency official Benjamin Davis, effective September 30, in Rome.
The Israeli mission lodged a formal complaint with the FAO after Davis’s Gaza-hunger seminar and a moment-of-silence event.
Davis appealed the termination, arguing it breached due-process standards.
Qu Dongyu told the 28th Committee on Forestry in Rome that the FAO would not tolerate political activism.

1 / 2