West STL News

In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Congresswoman Ann Wagner and Congressman Michael McCaul, along with 15 other Republican Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, demanded the immediate reclaiming of funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The letter emphasizes the need for the State Department to take action and withhold the tens of millions of dollars it has obligated or committed to UNRWA, citing concerns over the agency's association with U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

The decision to pause additional funding to UNRWA was deemed appropriate and necessary, given the disturbing evidence of UNRWA employees' involvement in the October 7 attack. However, the lawmakers argue that this measure falls short of what is required. They assert that the American taxpayer should not continue to fund an organization that is deeply intertwined with FTOs.

According to new intelligence reports, approximately 10% of UNRWA's 12,000-member staff in Gaza, roughly 1,200 individuals, have direct ties to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), both of which are designated as FTOs. These individuals are not mere acquaintances of terrorists but are believed to be active operatives within these terrorist organizations. Additionally, half of UNRWA's staff have close relatives belonging to Hamas or PIJ, and the percentage of male UNRWA staff with ties to Hamas is higher than that of the entire male Gaza population.

The letter also highlights intelligence assessments published in the Wall Street Journal, alleging that Hamas has stolen over $1 million of relief supplies from UNRWA and that Hamas operatives are deeply involved in UNRWA's assistance delivery operations. These findings underline the undeniable fact that funding UNRWA indirectly means supporting Hamas. As a result, the lawmakers insist that the State Department must reclaim the funding it has obligated to UNRWA as soon as possible.

The letter concludes by requesting a response from Secretary Blinken no later than February 14, 2024, with a detailed explanation of the Administration's plan to reclaim taxpayer dollars and prevent any potential support to the FTOs responsible for the October 7 attack, which claimed the lives of over 1,200 innocent people.

The call to reclaim funding from UNRWA reflects the growing concerns among these Members of the Foreign Affairs Committee regarding the agency's alleged connections to terrorist organizations. The letter highlights the need for transparency and accountability in ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not inadvertently supporting entities associated with violence and terrorism.