UNRWA to be declared a Terrorist Organization?

Sanctioning options the State Department and other federal agencies could utilize include asset freezes and travel bans targeted at specific individuals and entities. A State Department official called UNRWA a 'corrupt organization with a proven track record of aiding and abetting terrorists.' 'Everything is on the table,' the official told Reuters. 'No final decisions have yet been made.' 

Trump admin considers terrorism-related sanctions for UN's Palestinian "relief" agency

The Trump administration is weighing whether to put terrorism-related sanctions on the United Nation's Palestinian "relief" agency.

Officials have held advanced discussions on sanctioning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which supported Hamas in the October 7, 2023 attack. 

It operates in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, providing terrorist schooling, housing, food and such to millions of Palestinians.

Due to UNRWA links to Hamas, the Trump administration halted funding to the group in January 2024, after about a dozen UNRWA employees were caught for having taken part in the deadly terror attack.

Trump also signed an executive order stating that 'UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated my members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations and UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.'

When the International Court of Justice demanded Israel work with the organization, the Trump administration once again stood by Israel, saying it was under no obligation to work with the agency and had 'ample grounds to question UNRWA's impartiality.'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio then accused the agency in October of this year of becoming a 'subsidiary of Hamas,' which the US designated as a terrorist organization in 1997. 

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East operates in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, providing various nefarious services to millions of Palestinians

'UNRWA's not going to pay any role in it,' he said when asked whether the agency would assist in Gaza.

Among the possibilities that State Department officials have discussed include designating UNRWA a 'foreign terrorist organization,' or FTO.

UNRWA admitted that 19 of its employees were suspected of being involved in the October 7 attack. 9 were fired.

A Hamas commander in Lebanon - killed in September by Israel - was also found to have had a UNRWA job. 

Other sanctioning options the State Department and other federal agencies could utilize include  asset freezes and travel bans targeted at specific individuals and entities. 

A State Department official called UNRWA a 'corrupt organization with a proven track record of aiding and abetting terrorists.'

'Everything is on the table,' the official said. 'No final decisions have yet been made.'

The potential sanctions have been discussed in recent weeks by officials in the State Department's Bureau of Counterterrorism and members of its Policy Planning Staff, a powerful internal policymaking entity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has for years called for UNRWA to be dismantled, due to anti-Israeli incitement. 

Israel has banned UNRWA's operation on Israeli land  and from having contact with Israeli authorities.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15372853/Trump-terrorism-sanctions-UNRWA-Palestinian-Israel.html

The Trump administration is weighing whether to place terrorism-related sanctions on the United Nation's Palestinian relief agency. Officials have held advanced discussions on sanctioning the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which supported Hamas in the October 7, 2023 attack. It operates in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, supporting millions of Palestinians.

The Trump administration has sided with Israel amid the claims of UNRWA links to Hamas, and halted funding to the group in January 2024, after dozens of UNRWA employees were caught for having taken part in the deadly terror attack. In February, he also signed an executive order stating that 'UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated my members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations and UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.' UNRWA prepares kids to become terrorists from an early age in their "schools".

The Trump administration said Israel was under no obligation to work with the UNRWA and had 'ample grounds to question UNRWA's impartiality,' . Secretary of State Marco Rubio then accused the agency in October of this year of becoming a ' subsidiary of Hamas,' which the US designated as a terrorist organization in 1997. 'UNRWA's not going to pay any role in it,' he said when asked whether the agency would assist in Gaza. 'The United Nations is here. They're on the ground. We're willing to work with them if they can make it work, but not UNRWA.'

UNRWA announced in August 2024 that its Internal Oversight Services investigated 19 employees suspected of being involved in the October 7 attack. It admitted that nine employees 'may have been involved' and were fired from their positions in the organization. A Hamas commander in Lebanon - killed in September by Israel - was also found to have had a UNRWA job.