U.S. suspends funding to UNRWA over staff's alleged involvement in Oct. 7 terrorist attacks

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported that it terminated several employees’ contracts and has opened an investigation against several of them to determine whether they participated in the terrorist attacks of October 7.

"The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7," said Commisioner General Philippe Lazzarini in a statement. "Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.”

The U.S. State Department announced Friday that the U.S. has decided to suspend funding to UNRWA while it evaluates the allegations against some members of the organization. This means that UNRWA is losing its main donor.

"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on January 25 to emphasize the necessity of a thorough and swift investigation of this matter," Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the department, said in a statement. Miller also stated that 12 employees are under investigation and that the U.N. has committed to "a 'comprehensive and independent' review of UNRWA."

The group has been accused numerous times of favoring Hamas. It has also been accused of including training terrorists in its schools and silencing reports of theft.