In recent days Israel has revealed intelligence showing the direct involvement of at least 12 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the devastating October 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of 1200 Jews in Israel, with 200 kidnapped back to Gaza. The presentation of this evidence has sent shockwaves through the international community, calling into question the agency’s operations and accountability measures.
It’s known that at least one UNRWA employee actively participated in a kidnapping during the attacks and others participated in the kibbutz massacres, adding a chilling dimension to the unfolding scandal. With UNRWA currently entrusted with the distribution of aid in Gaza, the revelation has triggered widespread condemnation and raised serious questions about the agency’s oversight and vetting procedures.
A Long History of Wrongdoing
For many though, these revelations were no surprise, but simply a continuation of UNRWA’s long standing issues of corruption and education of the children of Gaza in hatred of Jews. Critics have long voiced concerns about UNRWA’s alleged complicity in fostering an environment conducive to terrorism, particularly through its educational system.
UNRWA employs more than 13,000 Gazans, many of whom are active Hamas members—some of them holding senior positions. Hamas has absolute control of UNRWA schools, which constitute the majority of educational institutions in Gaza. The curriculum taught in these schools is openly pro-terrorist and pro-genocide against Jews.
Marcus Sheff, CEO of the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-SE), commented on the teaching of terror by UNRWA. In comments reported in JNS, he said, “Sadly, this is not a bug. It is a feature of UNRWA… UNRWA runs the majority of schools in Gaza, where it teaches jihad, martyrdom and the burning of Israelis as a barbecue party. Statistically, the majority of the Oct. 7 terrorists—over 1,500—will have gone to these UNRWA schools, where they were systematically radicalized over years,” he noted.
The World Responds
In response to the damning accusations, more than 15 countries have taken decisive action to suspend their support for UNRWA, representing a significant blow to the agency’s financial resources. Among those halting funding are the United States, Germany, Japan, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom, signaling a clear repudiation of UNRWA’s involvement in terrorism. The annual contributions of these countries to UNRWA amounts to more than $1 billion.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has addressed the mounting evidence, vowing to hold any UN employee involved in acts of terror accountable. At the same time, he is calling on countries to restore funding for UNRWA.
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, has called for swift and decisive action, urging a comprehensive probe into UNRWA’s activities and personnel. “Every country that continues to fund UNRWA before a comprehensive investigation into the organization needs to know that its money will be used for terror and the assistance that is given to UNRWA is liable to go to Hamas terrorists instead of the population of Gaza,” he said, calling on all remaining countries to freeze their funding and demand a probe into the body.
Source Links:
https://twitter.com/bokeralmog
https://x.com/AviMayer/status/1751333713416167752?s=20
https://x.com/UNRWA/status/1730650140229201949?s=20
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/2442111/un-palestinian-agency-looking-into-claim-teacher-held-israeli-hostage-in-attic/
https://www.reuters.com/article/middleeastCrisis/idUSL05686115/
https://x.com/orielishamiller/status/1750213448653242860?s=20
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/384269
https://www.jns.org/countries-pause-unrwa-funding-over-alleged-oct-7-complicity/
