DOJ Defends UN Relief Agency for Palestinians Despite Terror Involvement

The Justice Department has sided with the United Nations in defending its relief agency for Palestinians after some workers were found to have likely been involved in the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. Victims of the massacre and their families sued UNRWA in a New York federal court, accusing the group and the individuals involved of aiding and abetting Hamas "in the commission of international torts."

The Justice Department (DOJ) has filed a brief in support of the United Nations' defense of its relief agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, in a lawsuit alleging that the agency aided and abetted Hamas in the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. The lawsuit, filed by victims of the massacre and their families, accuses UNRWA of providing financial and material support to Hamas, facilitating the construction of Hamas command centers, permitting weapons storage in UNRWA facilities, and concealing rocket and rocket-launching materials on UNRWA premises.

The DOJ's brief argues that the United Nations enjoys diplomatic immunity under the Charter of the United Nations, which the United States acceded to in 1945. The brief states that "the United States acknowledges and deplores the profound losses suffered on October 7," but that "the United States takes no position on the factual allegations in the complaint."

DOJ Defends UN Relief Agency for Palestinians Despite Terror Involvement

The brief also notes that the individual defendants in the lawsuit also enjoy immunity from suit as U.N. employees. This argument has been criticized by Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, who argues that the allegations in the complaint relate to actions taken by the defendants outside the scope of their official functions.

"To be clear… [the complaint is] chock-full of allegations that these defendants aided and abetted Hamas, and that they did so consciously, voluntarily, and culpably," Goldfeder said. "Is it, pray tell, your contention that all of those actions were what UNRWA was supposed to be doing?"

DOJ Defends UN Relief Agency for Palestinians Despite Terror Involvement

Anne Bayefsky, president of Human Rights Voices and Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, argues that the practical effect of the DOJ's position is "unaccountability" for UNRWA.

"Regardless of the empty protestations to the contrary, the practical effect of the DOJ position is to contribute to unaccountability for UNRWA and its employees despite their demonstrable connections to Hamas and heinous behavior on multiple fronts," Bayefsky said.

DOJ Defends UN Relief Agency for Palestinians Despite Terror Involvement

UNRWA and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York did not respond to Fox News Digital's requests for comment.

The lawsuit against UNRWA is one of several recent cases involving the agency's alleged ties to Hamas. In August, UNRWA fired at least nine of its employees after finding that they likely participated in the Hamas massacre of 1,200 people, including more than 30 Americans.

DOJ Defends UN Relief Agency for Palestinians Despite Terror Involvement

The allegations against UNRWA raise serious concerns about the agency's neutrality and its ability to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees without compromising its integrity. The DOJ's decision to defend UNRWA in court despite these allegations has been met with criticism from some observers, who argue that it undermines the Biden administration's commitment to combating terrorism and protecting American interests.