Israeli officials have intensified their criticism of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), alleging it still employs individuals affiliated with Hamas, including terrorists. Israel’s Deputy Director General for International Organizations Amir Weissbrod condemned UNRWA as unsuitable for funding by donor countries immediately ceasing all funding.
Israel recently obtained new documents identifying UNRWA staff members as “clearly identified” Hamas operatives, according to Weissbrod’s recent post on X. He noted that some individuals in these documents had previously been flagged in a letter sent in July 2024 but no action had been taken on them since. These allegations form part of Israel’s wider condemnation of UNRWA and the UN for betraying their founding principles and becoming corrupt, anti-Semitic institutions, according to i24NEWS.
Israel has long maintained that UNRWA had become compromised following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack which killed over 1,200 Israelis. An intelligence dossier produced by Israel accused approximately 190 UNRWA employees–10% of its Gaza workforce–of having links to Hamas or Islamic Jihad; 12 individuals specifically implicated were named in helping coordinate or assist the attack itself and many may have served roles such as teachers, counselors and logistic coordinators during its implementation.
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By January 2025, Israel had legalized UNRWA’s withdrawal from operating within their jurisdiction, officially cutting all ties by the end of that month. Israeli officials claimed that over 1,200 Hamas-affiliated individuals were employed by UNRWA – something UNRWA and many international actors dispute.
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UNRWA Has Responded and Received International Backlash
UNRWA has denied allegations of militants operating under its payroll, pointing out an ongoing internal investigation and reminding critics that any individuals accused represent only a small fraction of its total staff. Purging any implicated individuals is prioritized. UN leaders, including Secretary-General Guterres, have called for thorough reviews while emphasizing UNRWA’s indispensability in times of worsening humanitarian crises. W3 citation
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Major Western donors such as the United States and European Union members initially suspended funding in response to allegations against UNRWA; they later reinstated it due to UNRWA’s critical role in aiding 2.2 million Palestinians. EU officials noted that penalizing UNRWA for the actions of individuals would only compound civilian suffering in Gaza. At first, United Nations PressVeroffentlichung +5 (Wikipedia+5 per article).
Since Israel severed ties with UNRWA in January 2025, aid operations in Gaza have been fractured. Responsibilities were transferred to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation while UN vehicles were prohibited entry. Independent monitors warn that such disruptions contribute to worsening food, medical, and shelter distribution delays and an erosion of civil infrastructure. TIME reported on these issues earlier in 2025.
Strategic Implications Israeli officials view UNRWA as both a security liability and ideological extension of Hamas. According to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, UNRWA perpetuates conflict and undermines any path to peace. Israel further asserts that donor governments unwittingly fund terrorist activity through funding UNRWA.
Critics, including humanitarian groups and international diplomats, argue that dismantling UNRWA could create serious voids that lead to mass displacement and hunger in Gaza. The debate highlights the tension between security concerns and humanitarian necessity. (Wikipedia).
Israel’s latest appeal to global funders to halt UNRWA aid marks an opportune time: either critical support remains for Gazans despite allegations, or further crises emerge in Gaza. Donor governments must weigh allegations of terrorism against its key role alleviating suffering in one of the world’s gravest humanitarian emergencies.