The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), responsible for providing aid to Palestinian refugees, is facing intense scrutiny from U.S. officials due to alleged ties to terrorism. The agency has over 1,500 employees under investigation for possible links to terrorist organizations.
U.S. officials have been vocal about their concerns over UNRWA's alleged ties to terrorism, with some calling for the defunding of the agency. The concerns stem from issues such as school materials promoting terror, the presence of Hamas tunnels beneath UNRWA schools, and charges that staff members participated in the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7 against Israel.
Although the U.N. conducted its own investigation into the allegations in 2024, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) found insufficient evidence to support the participation of 10 employees in the attacks. The remaining nine employees had their contracts terminated. The USAID Office of the Inspector General continues to investigate 1,500 UNRWA employees, with 108 current or former staff members referred to the State Department for suspension or exclusion from working with organizations that receive U.S. funds.
According to a U.S. diplomatic official, at least 1,500 current or former UNRWA employees are under investigation for ties to foreign terrorist organizations in Gaza. A senior U.S. official stated that the USAID OIG investigation is "critical" as it helps prevent terrorists from infiltrating aid organizations that receive U.S. funding.
The investigation has revealed several disturbing cases, including a teacher who was ordered to bring anti-tank missiles to a specific location during the October 7 terror attacks, and a deputy school principal who coordinated communications with suspected Hamas members. As a result of its investigations, the State Department has banned one UNRWA employee from future work with U.S. government entities.
A senior U.S. official expressed concerns that the USAID OIG investigation "smartly picked up where the U.N. failed" by looking beyond the October 7 participation. The official emphasized that U.S. taxpayers should not fund the salaries of aid workers who are members of a foreign terrorist organization.
The Board of Peace has also expressed concerns about the USAID OIG's investigations, stating that it cannot have an institution operating in Gaza that allegedly participates in and supports terrorism. The Board of Peace plans to transition services over to ensure there are no gaps in critical aid delivery.
The U.S. Representative for United Nations Management and Reform, Ambassador Jeff Bartos, warned that it is time "to break this cycle" of underwriting an organization that has become a subsidiary of Hamas. Bartos emphasized that the Palestinian people living in Gaza deserve a chance to find durable solutions and prosper instead of being subjected to endless cycles of dependency and refugeehood.
Meanwhile, the U.N. Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory condemned the obstruction of humanitarian operations in Gaza by the de facto authorities. The incidents reflect an increasingly dangerous pattern of intimidation, violence, and obstruction, including smuggling attempts and targeting humanitarian operations.
