Full Breakdown
FAO Official Dismissed Over Gaza Hunger Advocacy
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Termination of Benjamin Davis
Benjamin Davis, a senior FAO official who led the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, was told his contract would not be renewed after 26 years of service. The decision followed an FAO-approved briefing on Gaza’s hunger crisis, a September 2025 seminar on the topic, and weekly “moment of silence” vigils held on FAO grounds. Davis has filed an appeal, describing the dismissal as a matter of principle rather than compensation.
Background & Context: Gaza’s Worsening Food Situation
Since Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 2023 Hamas attack, the Gaza Strip has faced a severe food emergency. The Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths, with roughly 2 million residents at risk of hunger. FAO staff organized regular silent protests to draw attention to the famine, actions later deemed “politically sensitive” by the agency.
Timeline
- May 2024 – Davis’s team publishes a briefing paper on Gaza’s hunger levels.
- September 2025 – Davis leads a seminar on Gaza hunger; the Israeli mission files a complaint.
- October 2025 – Weekly moments of silence are held; an altercation occurs on 23 Oct when a woman identifying herself as an Israeli diplomat photographs participants.
- Late September 2025 – FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu requests Davis step down by Sept. 30.
- Early October 2025 – Davis’s contract is not renewed; he announces his appeal.
Data & Statistics
- Deaths: > 74,000 Palestinians (Gaza Health Ministry).
- Population at risk: ~2 million Gaza residents facing food insecurity.
- FAO tenure: 26 years for Davis.
Official Statements & Responses
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu warned the organization would not tolerate “political games” and suggested staff direct human-rights concerns to the UN agency in Geneva, citing the FAO code of conduct on impartiality.
The Israeli mission filed a complaint after the September 2025 seminar and sent a diplomat to photograph staff during the October vigils. The Israeli embassy in Rome declined comment.
FAO has not issued a public statement confirming the specific grounds for Davis’s dismissal, nor responded to media inquiries.
Verbatim Quote
> “I filed the appeal mostly as a matter of principle, not because I’m looking for or expecting any monetary compensation.” — Benjamin Davis
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Reason for dismissal: FAO’s internal letter cites “lack of confidence” and breaches of the staff code of conduct, while Davis argues the actions were approved by management and that diplomatic pressure was the real driver.
- FAO’s public response: No official comment has been released, leaving the procedural basis for the non-renewal unclear.
What’s Next
Davis’s appeal is pending; he seeks reinstatement and the removal of the accusations against him. No timeline for a decision has been disclosed by the FAO. The episode underscores tensions between UN agencies’ humanitarian mandates and external diplomatic pressures amid the Gaza conflict.