WASHINGTON — The United Nations Aid and Works Company for Palestine Refugees within the Close to East (UNRWA) has fired 70 staffers primarily based within the Gaza Strip after greater than 100 of its staff’ ties to the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel had been uncovered by a federal watchdog probe.
UNRWA Commissioner-Basic advert interim Christian Saunders mentioned in an announcement Thursday that the mass sacking was “not a part of a disciplinary course of and doesn’t represent in any means a validation of the claims made towards” the employees.
Saunders added that the culling was a part of “an evaluation of the security and safety of UNRWA operations in Gaza.”
“UNRWA has repeatedly requested the Israeli authorities to offer data and proof to substantiate allegations towards particular person UNRWA workers members in Gaza however has obtained no response up to now,” he additionally mentioned.
“The choice was taken within the pursuits of the Company as offered for by UNRWA’s authorized framework. Its goal is to mitigate security and safety dangers for the refugees the Company serves below its mandate and for UNRWA personnel and premises.”
On Monday, the US Company for Worldwide Improvement’s inside watchdog (USAID OIG) referred greater than 100 UNRWA workers for suspension or debarment from taking taxpayer funds for the enxt 10 years over their roles in serving to Hamas perform the worst bloodbath of Jews for the reason that Holocaust.
“It’s fairly telling that it took the USAID Inspector Basic’s impartial investigation for UNRWA to acknowledge that it has a Hamas drawback,” a senior State Division official instructed The Submit Friday.
“USAID OIG’s investigation may even allow help organizations to keep away from hiring Hamas members whose pursuits serve terror moderately than these in want.”
In complete, 108 UNRWA staff shall be barred from receiving US funding primarily based on their “participation” within the assault that killed an estimated 1,200 folks in Israel — together with 46 US residents — or their “affiliation” with Hamas.
“Among the many people referred had been UNRWA faculty principals, lecturers, safety personnel, attendants, psychosocial counselors, and medical professionals,” the USAID OIG’s investigative abstract said.
Senate Republicans, led by Intelligence Committee chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), have known as on President Trump to “totally dismantle UNRWA” and remove it from the United Nations’ finances over the company’s uncovered Hamas affiliation.
An administration supply acquainted with discussions in regards to the matter confirmed there have been talks contained in the White Home of utilizing funding cutoffs “to power the UN to interrupt from UNRWA.”
Trump signed an government order in February 2025 yanking federal funding for UNRWA, which had beforehand obtained between $350 and $360 million in voluntary contributions from Washington.
Greater than $839 million flowed on to the company from different international locations that calendar 12 months.
The UN’s annual finances, to which the US nonetheless contributes, earmarks round $70 million for UNRWA, giving the company a complete finances of practically $1 billion.
USAID OIG’s probe is investigating as much as 1,500 UNRWA staff.
Parallel investigations are additionally being performed by the Division of Justice and FBI, two sources acquainted with the work beforehand mentioned.
