Staff Reports
President Joe Biden’s administration has taken a shocking turn by following the footsteps left by the former president, Donald Trump. Yes, you heard it right! The administration suspended funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is supposed to provide humanitarian services in Gaza and elsewhere. This move came after allegations surfaced that 12 UNRWA employees were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, resulting in the loss of 1,200 lives. In response to Israel’s claims, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called them “highly, highly credible,” further solidifying the grave accusations against UNRWA.
The move to halt funding is significant as UNRWA has recently terminated several employees due to their connections to the Oct. 7 attacks, as revealed by Israel. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA commissioner-general, claimed that any UNRWA employee involved in acts of terror would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. However, this professed shock and outrage drew skepticism from congressional lawmakers, analysts, and Middle East observers who have long argued that UNRWA’s operation in Hamas-controlled Gaza inherently supported the terrorist group, partly driven by ideological affinity for the anti-Israel cause and utilitarian reasons to stay in the good graces of the power-wielding group Hamas.
It’s essential to note that Hamas has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department since 1997. They have controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, and it is widely known that UNRWA’s operation in the area has been accused of supporting the terrorist group.
Western nations, including the U.S., have been the primary funders of UNRWA’s roughly $1.3 billion budget, with the U.S. often providing a significant chunk of the funding. However, the recent allegations have raised questions about the agency’s potential radicalization, leading 18 countries, including the U.S., to suspend funding. This move echoes the actions of the Trump administration, which ended all U.S. UNRWA funding in 2018, labeling the agency as “irredeemably flawed.” Not only that, but House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) expressed outrage and disbelief at the allegations, emphasizing that UNRWA is not a neutral arbiter, and their anti-Israel bias is widespread and systemic.
