US funding pause to UNRWA could become permanent

Mar 14

Lauren Taylor Reporter

By Lauren Taylor (Reporter), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

This report was created with support from enhanced software.

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U.S. officials are preparing for a potential permanent halt in American funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Funding from the U.S. and several other Western nations was suspended in January, following allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.

UNRWA is presently under investigation regarding the allegations.

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Representative Brian Mast, R-Fla, claimed that UNRWA “masquerades as a relief organization while building the infrastructure to support Hamas… it is literally funneling American tax dollars to terrorism.”

As the largest donor to UNRWA, providing $300-400 million annually, the U.S. aims to await the investigation’s results before reconsidering funding.

A spokesperson for the agency stressed UNRWA’s broader role beyond Gaza, encompassing health care, education and social services in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

Even if U.S. funding resumes funding, only $300,000 in appropriated funds would be released without congressional approval.

A U.S. congressional bill, which includes aid to Israel and Ukraine, carries a provision that blocks UNRWA funding, and it is supported by President Biden’s administration.

UNRWA is currently conducting an independent review. Earlier this year, the agency terminated a dozen employees over allegations of ties to Hamas. According to a recent UNRWA report, some employees claim they were coerced by Israel into making false statements linking the agency to Hamas.

Sweden and Canada have pledged to restart their contributions to UNRWA.

Tags: Foreign aid, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, U.S. Congress, United Nations

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

U.S. OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING FOR A POSSIBLE PERMANENT HALT IN U-S FUNDING TO THE UN AGENCY THAT PROVIDES AID TO PALESTINIANS, DUE TO CONGRESSIONAL OPPOSITION.

FUNDING FROM THE U-S AND SEVERAL OTHER WESTERN NATIONS WAS SUSPENDED IN JANUARY FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS OF UNRWA STAFF INVOLVEMENT IN THE OCTOBER 7TH HAMAS ATTACK ON SOUTHERN ISRAEL.

Unrwa is currently under investigation regarding the allegations.

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN MAST SAID UNRWA “MASQUERADES AS A RELIEF ORGANIZATION WHILE BUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT HAMAS … IT IS LITERALLY FUNNELING AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS TO TERRORISM.”

THE U.S. IS UNRWA’S LARGEST DONOR — PROVIDING $300 MILLION TO 400 MILLION ANNUALLY – AND WANTS TO AWAIT THE INVESTIGATION’S RESULTS BEFORE RECONSIDERING FUNDING.

A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE AGENCY SAYS “PLEASE REMEMBER THAT UNRWA IS MORE THAN GAZA. IT’S HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES. IT’S EAST JERUSALEM, THE WEST BANK, JORDAN, SYRIA, LEBANON.”

EVEN IF FUNDING RESUMES, ONLY $300,000 WORTH OF APPROPRIATED FUNDS WOULD BE RELEASED WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF CONGRESS.

A U.S. CONGRESSIONAL BILL THAT INCLUDES AID TO ISRAEL AND UKRAINE, CARRIES A PROVISION BLOCKING UNRWA FUNDING, AND IT’S SUPPORTED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN’S ADMINISTRATION.

UNRWA IS CONDUCTING AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW.

EARLIER THIS YEAR – THE AGENCY FIRED A DOZEN EMPLOYEES OVER – ALLEGATIONS THEY WERE LINKED TO HAMAS.

ACCORDING TO AN UNRWA REPORT RELEASED LAST WEEK — SOME OF THEIR EMPLOYEES SAY THEY WERE PRESSURED BY ISRAEL – INTO MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS LINKING THE AGENCY TO HAMAS.

SWEDEN AND CANADA HAVE PLEDGED TO RESTART THEIR UNRWA CONTRIBUTIONS.