UNRWA Under Scrutiny: Hamas Presence, Funding Freeze, and Terrorism Concerns

Pressure mounts on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) amid evidence of Hamas activity within its facilities and allegations of employee participation in terrorist attacks. As a result, Israel has moved to cut ties with the agency, while Congress has passed legislation to recover previously donated funds.

In recent weeks, UNRWA has come under increasing scrutiny for its failure to condemn armed terror groups operating within its facilities in the Gaza Strip. Israeli lawmakers have approved the first reading of a bill that would cut ties with the agency and declare it a terrorist entity, while Congress has passed legislation building on an existing funding freeze.

UNRWA Under Scrutiny: Hamas Presence, Funding Freeze, and Terrorism Concerns

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have released video footage allegedly showing Hamas terrorists operating within a UNRWA base near Rafah. Israel has long accused UNRWA of perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by recognizing the descendants of Palestinian refugees indefinitely, unlike other refugee agencies.

Criticism of UNRWA has intensified after Israel provided evidence of UNRWA employees participating in Hamas-led terror attacks in southern Israel in October 2022. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant claimed that dozens of employees took part in the attacks. Additionally, some hostages taken during the attacks were held captive by teachers and medical staff employed by UNRWA.

UNRWA Under Scrutiny: Hamas Presence, Funding Freeze, and Terrorism Concerns

In response, the U.S. and 17 other countries paused funding to UNRWA, while most countries later resumed support. However, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) is still investigating Israel's claims against UNRWA employees.

The IDF has reported daily battles with armed terror groups in and around UNRWA compounds. While UNRWA has condemned the fighting in its facilities and the deaths of civilians, it has not directly criticized Hamas or other terror factions for intentionally drawing the fighting to its centers.

UNRWA Under Scrutiny: Hamas Presence, Funding Freeze, and Terrorism Concerns

Juliette Touma, director of communications for UNRWA, maintains that the organization has condemned all parties for misusing its facilities and called for investigations into violations of international law. However, Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan dismissed these statements as insincere.

The legislation in the Knesset received support from across the political spectrum and, if passed, would ban UNRWA from operating in Israel and revoke diplomatic privileges for its personnel. In the U.S., the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a bill to recover federal funds previously allocated to UNRWA.

UNRWA Under Scrutiny: Hamas Presence, Funding Freeze, and Terrorism Concerns

Critics argue that UNRWA is an incubator for Palestinian terrorists, with intelligence reports indicating links between up to 10% of its workers and Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. They demand that American tax dollars not be used to support the agency.

Supporters of UNRWA contend that it provides critical life-saving services for millions of Palestinians and that cutting funding would harm vulnerable populations. However, critics argue that funding should be reallocated to other organizations that do not harbor terrorist activities.

UNRWA Under Scrutiny: Hamas Presence, Funding Freeze, and Terrorism Concerns

The future of UNRWA remains uncertain as investigations and debates continue. The agency faces significant pressure to address concerns about Hamas activity and its role in perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.