Israeli Officials Demand UNRWA Remove 100 Hamas Terrorist Employees

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released a list of 100 UNRWA employees it alleges are members of Hamas, calling for their immediate termination. The move underscores a long-standing concern over the infiltration of terrorist operatives within the United Nations agency.

Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), demanding the immediate termination of 100 employees it alleges are members of Hamas.

The July 4 letter, obtained by Fox News Digital, states that the presence of Hamas terrorists within UNRWA has been a "recurring concern" for Israeli officials.

Israeli Officials Demand UNRWA Remove 100 Hamas Terrorist Employees

"However, the full scope of this unprecedented infiltration was unknown and became clear only after the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel, in which, as you know, UNRWA employees actively participated," wrote Ambassador Amir Weissbrod.

According to Israeli officials, the government has identified hundreds of terrorists employed by UNRWA in the Gaza Strip, some of whom hold high-ranking positions.

Israeli Officials Demand UNRWA Remove 100 Hamas Terrorist Employees

The Israeli government has provided UNRWA with a list of the 100 employees it alleges are associated with Hamas. The list includes their names, IDs, and military IDs.

"Israel expects from you and your organization to immediately terminate the employment of any member of Hamas or PIJ…their work in UNRWA poses a security risk for Israel, and represents a breach of the principle of neutrality as was mentioned in Ms. Colonna's report," wrote Weissbrod.

Israeli Officials Demand UNRWA Remove 100 Hamas Terrorist Employees

Israeli officials have repeatedly released evidence of Hamas terrorists working within UNRWA, and the agency has acknowledged the authenticity of this information in the past.

In January, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini announced that he had fired UNRWA staff members involved in the October 7 attacks.

Israeli Officials Demand UNRWA Remove 100 Hamas Terrorist Employees

"To protect the Agency's ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay," he said.

However, Lazzarini has also pushed back against Israeli criticism of UNRWA, arguing that the agency is vital for providing humanitarian assistance to Palestinian refugees and upholding their rights.

UNRWA is facing financial difficulties and has appealed to donors for additional funding. The agency's critics have argued that its operations overlap with other UN agencies and that its mandate should be re-evaluated.

The Israeli government has called for UNRWA's operations to be ended, arguing that it perpetuates the refugee issue and supports terrorism.

The UNRWA has rejected these calls, stating that it is a neutral organization providing essential services to Palestinian refugees.

The issue of Hamas operatives within UNRWA is likely to remain a contentious issue between Israel and the agency. Israeli officials have vowed to continue to press UNRWA to remove all terrorist elements from its ranks.