Key facts
- Benjamin Davis, a former senior UN food agency official, has appealed his dismissal.
- Davis alleges his dismissal was motivated by his stance on hunger in Gaza.
- The FAO cited breaches of international civil service standards requiring impartiality.
- Davis stated he worked at the FAO for 26 years.
- He was one of hundreds of employees who joined moments of silence for hunger victims in Gaza.
A former senior director at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched an appeal against his dismissal, which he claims was motivated by his activism regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Benjamin Davis, a 62-year-old Spanish American director, was informed his employment would end on September 30 at the request of FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.
According to documents seen by Reuters, the FAO cited breaches of international civil service standards requiring staff to act with impartiality. Davis rejected this allegation, stating he has been disciplined without due process for speaking about the right to food, a core mandate of the FAO. He has worked at the organization for 26 years on a renewable contract.
Davis was among hundreds of FAO employees who participated in moments of silence for hunger victims in Gaza. He also authored a report on food availability in the Palestinian enclave in May 2025. The dispute became public when Qu, speaking at a FAO conference, defended the dismissal of an unnamed staff member, accusing them of 'playing the political game' and not allowing them to 'play the game here of human rights.'
The case has sparked debate within the UN about staff's ability to express views on humanitarian crises without jeopardizing their careers. Under UN rules, staff can express political opinions as long as they do not adversely affect their official duties or UN interests. Davis expressed concern that other employees might face retaliation for their participation in the Gaza-related moments of silence. The case is currently within the FAO's internal justice process and could be escalated to a UN tribunal.