On August 5, the United Nations announced the dismissal of additional employees from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) for potential involvement in Hamas’s October 7 attacks against Israel. This announcement is perceived by many as mere propaganda, masking a deeper, longstanding issue. UNRWA has allegedly been complicit in supporting Hamas terrorism long before October 7, through various actions that undermine its stated mission of neutrality and humanitarian aid.
The Israeli intelligence reports indicate that at least 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) were involved in the Hamas terror assault on Israel on October 7. This attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and over 240 hostages taken. Among these 12 employees, six participated directly in the attack, two assisted in kidnapping, and others coordinated logistics, such as procuring weapons. Seven of these individuals were teachers, and one, an Arabic teacher, was identified as a Hamas commander involved in the attack on Kibbutz Be’eri. Israeli intelligence estimates that about 1,200 of UNRWA’s 12,000 employees in Gaza are linked to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
On February 10, 2024, the IDF announced the discovery of a tunnel shaft near a school in Gaza operated by UNRWA, which connected to the UNRWA’s central headquarters in Gaza City. The tunnel, located in the Rimal neighborhood, was 700 meters long and 18 meters deep. The IDF and Israel’s Shin Bet security agency said that the underground tunnel served as a significant asset of Hamas’s military intelligence and passed under the building that serves as UNRWA’s main headquarters in the Gaza Strip. It included a data center with electrical and living facilities for Hamas operatives. The IDF also indicated that power was supplied to the tunnel from the UNRWA building above.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini denied knowledge of the tunnel and called for an independent inquiry, which he stated was currently not possible due to the active conflict in Gaza. Lazzarini emphasized that UNRWA is a humanitarian organization without the capacity to conduct military inspections. In response, Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, called for Lazzarini to step down, and Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy claimed that UNRWA was aware of the tunnel and had ignored an invitation to inspect it.
UNRWA has faced long-standing controversy over its role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. UNRWA’s policy of granting refugee status to the descendants of Palestinian refugees ensures that the refugee population continues to grow, prolonging the conflict. Unlike other refugee situations, Palestinian refugee status is inherited, which some argue perpetuates the conflict. There is a belief that Arab nations, aside from Jordan, have used UNRWA to maintain the refugee issue as a political weapon against Israel.
UNRWA’s educational role has been controversial due to accusations that its materials, based on the Palestinian Authority (PA) curriculum, contain antisemitic content and promote violence. Reports, such as those by IMPACT-se, have highlighted that the PA curriculum, used in UNRWA schools, includes antisemitic and violent content. There are concerns that UNRWA’s supplemental materials fail to effectively counteract these issues. Over half of Gazan school students attend UNRWA schools. The IMPACT-se report further reveals that at least 100 Hamas members committing the terror attacks are graduates of UNRWA’s education system, whose textbooks include content that encourages antisemitism, glorifies violence, and promotes militant. UNRWA has a significant position in educating almost 545,000 Palestinian children across the Middle East.
UN Watch has reported over 150 instances since 2015 of UNRWA staff being involved in supporting terrorism and antisemitism. These include more than 80 teachers and staff across over 30 schools involved in distributing content that promotes hatred, glorifies terrorism and incites antisemitism. Additionally, Matthias Schmale, a former Gaza-based director of UNRWA, was transferred from his position after comments he made in 2021 about Israel’s military precision, which led to protests by UNRWA staff and threats from Hamas regarding his safety.
During the ongoing conflict, there have been multiple reports of Hamas using UNRWA facilities and equipment. For instance, in December, IDF raids on Al Rafaa and Zavaha schools in Gaza uncovered explosive devices and weapons hidden in UNRWA bags. Additionally, Israeli journalist Almog Boker reported that a UNRWA teacher held and starved an Israeli hostage, though UNRWA has demanded more information or a retraction. UN Watch’s January 2024 report highlighted a Telegram group of 3,000 UNRWA teachers who celebrated the October 7 Hamas attack, praising the attackers and sharing disturbing content.
As of my last update in October 2023, the United Nations does not officially recognize Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, or the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) as terrorist organizations. This is in contrast to the United States, which designates each of these groups as foreign terrorist organizations. UNRWA, being a UN-mandated agency, also does not label these groups as terrorist organizations.
According to the Associated Press, UN agencies spent nearly $4.5 billion in Gaza from 2014 to 2020, with $600 million of that amount in 2020 alone. Over 80% of this funding was allocated to UNRWA. With approximately 30% of UNRWA’s clientele based in Gaza, and the U.S. contributing $1 billion to UNRWA since 2021, it is estimated that an additional $300 million from U.S. funding has been directed towards Gaza in recent years.
Following Israeli intelligence briefings, the U.S. announced on January 26, 2024, that it would temporarily suspend funding to UNRWA while reviewing the allegations against the agency. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller emphasized the need for accountability for those involved in the October 7 attacks. Several other countries, including the UK, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan, have also suspended payments to UNRWA.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned any involvement of UN employees in acts of terrorism as “abhorrent,” but urged continued support for UNRWA, highlighting the essential work of its staff in dangerous conditions and the urgent needs of the populations they serve.
The suspension of financial aid to UNRWA by the U.S. and several other major donors raises concerns about the impact on the approximately two million Palestinian civilians in Gaza who rely on the agency’s aid. While the allegations against UNRWA employees are serious and warrant thorough investigation, it is crucial to ensure that the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza continues. The next steps regarding UNRWA must be carefully managed to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and to ensure that aid reaches those in need without disruption.
