26 state attorneys general urge Biden administration to cease all funding for UNRWA, linked to Hamas
American Funding for UN Palestinian Aid Group Under Scrutiny
A coalition of 26 state attorneys general is urging congressional leaders to cut off all American funding for the United Nations’ Palestinian aid group. This comes after revelations that employees of the agency assisted Hamas in carrying out a devastating attack on Israel.
“It is time for Congress to stop funding this organization that rapes, murders, and kidnaps innocents—and that has shown it has no willingness, desire, or capacity to stick to humanitarian aid and away from supporting antisemitism and terrorism,”
The attorneys general sent a letter to Republican and Democratic leaders in the House and Senate, emphasizing the need to halt funding for the U.N.’s Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). This agency is the primary humanitarian organization operating in the Gaza Strip. Israeli intelligence agencies recently disclosed that at least 12 UNRWA employees participated in a violent rampage by Hamas, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis.
Congress is already considering measures to suspend over $1 billion in funding for UNRWA, and the attorneys general’s letter adds urgency to these efforts.
States Unite Against Funding Terrorism
The letter, led by Iowa attorney general Brenna Bird (R) and South Carolina attorney general Alan Wilson (R), firmly states that funding organizations supporting terrorist operations is unjustifiable. They argue that UNRWA has long been involved in such activities.
While the Biden administration has temporarily paused U.S. funding to UNRWA pending an investigation, it has also acknowledged the agency’s critical relief efforts in war-torn Gaza. This suggests that funding could resume once public outrage subsides. The United States is set to provide at least $371 million in additional funding to UNRWA this year.
The state attorneys assert that UNRWA is a failed experiment spanning decades, and there is no justification for continuing to allocate funds. They call for an immediate end to financial contributions to UNRWA, both present and future.
Iowa’s Bird, in an interview with the Washington Free Beacon, expressed her intention to demonstrate that states across the country are outraged by the Biden administration’s decision to fund UNRWA. She believes it is the federal government’s responsibility to prosecute terrorists, not finance them with taxpayer dollars. State leaders are now blowing the whistle to ensure that UNRWA is not funded using their tax dollars.
The letter was signed by 26 attorneys general, including those from Texas, Florida, and Virginia. However, the attorney general from New Hampshire was unable to sign due to opposition from Governor Chris Sununu (R.), who oversees the state office.
The attorneys general emphasize that humanitarian aid to organizations operating in the Gaza Strip must be contingent upon robust third-party oversight. This oversight should ensure that staff members have no affiliation with Hamas or other terrorist organizations and that funds are not funneled to them under the table.
Currently, UNRWA is not subject to such oversight by the U.S. government. Experts who testified before Congress earlier this week highlighted that the agency is not required to undergo counterterrorism vetting for its staff, contractors, or beneficiaries.
Exploring Alternative Pressure Points
South Carolina’s Wilson, who co-led the letter with Bird, suggests that state officials can exert pressure by examining other avenues, such as cutting off UNRWA’s U.S.-based arm, UNRWA USA. A coalition of international lawyers has petitioned the IRS to revoke UNRWA USA’s tax-exempt status due to its ties to Hamas.
“That is a pressure point that absolutely should be considered and looked into,”
Wilson emphasizes that there are alternative ways to fund humanitarian projects in the Gaza Strip without bolstering Hamas and its affiliates. He argues that it is a false dilemma to claim that funding UNRWA is the only way to support those suffering due to Hamas’ actions. The U.S., Israel, and other Western countries have various means to provide assistance to those affected by the conflict.
What specific concerns did the United States under the Trump administration have about UNRWA’s operations and funding?
Es that cutting off funding is not only a matter of financial responsibility, but also a moral imperative.
Attorney general Wilson echoed these sentiments, stating, ”It is unacceptable that taxpayer dollars are being used to support an organization that has been infiltrated by terrorists and has blood on its hands. We must take immediate action to ensure that American funds are not indirectly aiding terrorism.”
UNRWA’s Troubled History
UNRWA was established in 1949 to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees displaced by the Arab-Israeli conflict. However, critics argue that the agency has strayed from its original humanitarian mission and become entangled in political agendas.
Issues of mismanagement and corruption have plagued UNRWA for years. In 2018, the United States under the Trump administration halted its funding to the agency, citing concerns over inefficiency and its perpetuation of the refugee issue without seeking a durable solution. The Trump administration also accused UNRWA of promoting anti-Israel bias in its educational materials.
Furthermore, intelligence reports have repeatedly linked UNRWA employees to terrorist activities, including the harboring of Hamas weapons and the use of UNRWA facilities as launching sites for attacks on Israel. These reports have raised serious questions about the agency’s vetting and oversight processes.
Given these allegations and the recent revelation of UNRWA employees directly participating in a violent attack, the coalition of attorneys general argues that continued American funding to UNRWA only serves to perpetuate violence and terrorism.
Global Implications
The coalition’s call to cut off funding for UNRWA has far-reaching implications beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They argue that by ensuring taxpayer dollars are not indirectly funding terrorism, the United States sets an example for the rest of the world to follow.
State attorney general Bird emphasizes, “We must hold organizations accountable for their actions. Supporting a group that engages in violence and supports terrorism undermines American values and national security.”
The attorneys general recognize the importance of humanitarian aid for the Palestinians, but they contend that funds should be channeled through responsible and transparent channels. They urge Congress to redirect assistance to organizations that have proven their commitment to nonviolence and humanitarian principles.
In the face of mounting evidence and bipartisan support for cutting off funding to UNRWA, the attorneys general’s letter serves as a strong voice of opposition. It emphasizes the need for congressional action to ensure that American taxpayer dollars are not inadvertently aiding terrorism and promotes a shift towards greater accountability and responsible allocation of funds.
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