Central ND News

On January 26, 2024, Israeli intelligence officials revealed evidence suggesting that staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were involved in the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023. In response, the United States Department of State decided to temporarily halt funding for the UNRWA, emphasizing the need for accountability for those involved in the heinous attacks.

According to UN Watch, the United States and EU countries were the largest donors to the UNRWA in 2023, accounting for approximately 75% of the agency's budget. Now, a group of senators is calling for a permanent cessation of U.S. contributions to the UNRWA.

In a letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer and his colleagues stressed the alarming nature of the revelations concerning UNRWA staff members' involvement in acts of terror. They argued that these actions were reflective of a deeper issue within the organization, stating, "For years, we have seen documented evidence of the corruption, antisemitism, and support for terrorism that exists inside this organization."

The senators highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating, "As we learned last week, UNRWA not only employs Hamas members, but rather Hamas fighters whose actions on October 7 resulted in the rape, kidnapping, torture, and murder of innocent civilians." They firmly asserted that no investigation or corrective measures could rectify the deeply-rooted problems within the organization.

Seeking a decisive course of action, the senators called for a permanent cessation of all U.S. contributions to the UNRWA. They underlined that Senate Republicans had already introduced various bills, including the Stop Support for Hamas Act of 2023, aimed at achieving this objective. The senators further requested that any supplemental package providing assistance to Israel in its fight against Hamas include an immediate and permanent prohibition against U.S. contributions to the UNRWA.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts, with several other senators cosigning it. Among them were U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, Ted Budd, John Barrasso, Thom Tillis, Mike Crapo, Markwayne Mullin, Steve Daines, Marco Rubio, Tommy Tuberville, Mitt Romney, Mike Braun, Deb Fischer, John Cornyn, Katie Boyd Britt, Eric Schmitt, John Kennedy, Ron Johnson, Joni Ernst, and Susan Collins.

The senators' call for a permanent halt to U.S. contributions to the UNRWA underscores their determination to address the serious concerns surrounding the organization's alleged involvement in terrorist activities. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how their proposal will be received and whether further action will be taken to ensure accountability and transparency within the UNRWA.