US urges donors to abandon UNRWA funding as UN defends agency's mission

The United States has intensified its campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), urging international donors to redirect their funding to a US-led alternative, even as the UN chief calls for increased support to avert a humanitarian crisis.

Speaking at UNRWA's annual pledging conference, US Ambassador Jeff Bartos urged governments to stop funding the agency, which he said has been infiltrated by Hamas, a group designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US since 1997. Bartos instead promoted the Board of Peace, a US-led initiative created under President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza, as a mechanism for "peace, prosperity and real, long-term development" for Palestinians, as reported by Fox News.

The US has already cut funding to UNRWA, and the agency now faces a $100 million shortfall, according to Al Jazeera. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on donor countries to bridge the gap, warning that the shortfall "imperils" the agency's work across the region. "As we meet here today, the safety and welfare of millions of Palestine refugees hangs in the balance," he told donors, describing living conditions in Gaza as "utterly appalling" and citing violence in the West Bank and Israeli attacks on Lebanon, where many refugees have sought shelter.

UNRWA, established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to assist Palestinians displaced from their homes, provides education, healthcare, social services and shelter to millions across Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Guterres warned that further funding cuts could push conditions "beyond a breaking point."

Allegations against the agency have intensified, with US officials accusing it of being infiltrated by Hamas. According to Fox News, more than 1,500 current or former UNRWA employees are under investigation for alleged ties to terrorism. The USAID Office of the Inspector General recently referred 108 current or former staff members to the State Department for suspension or exclusion from US-funded organizations, having found their involvement in the Hamas invasion of southern Israel. UNRWA terminated the contracts of nine employees after a UN investigation, while insufficient evidence was found for ten others, as reported by Fox News.

UNRWA, established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to assist Palestinians displaced from their homes, provides aid, schooling, healthcare, social services, and shelter across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria, according to Al Jazeera. The agency serves 2.6 million Palestinian refugees.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the agency's situation as "increasingly precarious" due to funding shortfalls and what he called "sweeping restrictions" on its operations in the occupied Palestinian territory. He warned that further cuts could push conditions "beyond the breaking point," noting the "utterly appalling" living conditions in Gaza, settler violence in the West Bank, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon where Palestinian refugees have sought shelter.

Fox News reported that US officials are investigating more than 1,500 current or former UNRWA employees for alleged ties to terrorist groups holistically. The US Agency for International Development's Office of Inspector General, which is leading the probe, has referred 108 current or former UNRWA staff to the State Department for suspension or exclusion from US-funded projects due to involvement with the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023. The report also notes that UNRWA terminated the contracts of nine employees after a UN investigation found insufficient evidence against ten others.

The US has accused UNRWA of allowing its schools to promote hatred of Jews and glorify terrorism, allegations that the UN has dismissed as "disinformation" and "incitement," with Secretary-General Guterres denouncing what he called a campaign against the agency.

Guterres stressed that UNRWA, established by the UN General Assembly in 1949 to aid Palestinians displaced from their homes, provides essential services—including education, healthcare, and shelter—to 2.6 million refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. He warned that further funding cuts could push the region "beyond the breaking point," citing "utterly appalling" living conditions in Gaza, settler violence in the West Bank, and Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Key Claims

• US calls for defunding: US Ambassador Jeff Bartos urged countries to stop funding UNRWA, accusing it of Hamas infiltration, and promoted the US-led Board of Peace as an alternative (Fox News).
• Allegations of terrorism ties: Over 1,500 current or former UNRWA employees are under investigation for links to terrorist groups, with 108 referred for suspension or exclusion from US-funded work (Fox News).
• Funding shortfall: UNRWA faces a $100 million funding gap (Al Jazeera).
• UN defense: Secretary-General Guterres appealed for funding, warning of a humanitarian crisis and condemning "disinformation" against the agency (Al Jazeera).
• Background: UNRWA was established in 1949 and serves millions of Palestinian refugees across the region (Al Jazeera).