Defying Outside Pressure, Israeli Parliamentarians Vow to Proceed With Legislation Targeting ‘Terrorist Organization’ UNRWA

Latest Developments

Several Western governments are leaning on Israel to drop proposed legislation to sever contacts with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) — despite copious evidence of the agency’s collaboration with Hamas and the participation of some of its staff in the October 7, 2023, atrocities carried out by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists.

Citing UNRWA’s involvement in the massacre, Israeli lawmakers are weighing two bills, supported by key figures in both the ruling coalition and the opposition, that would halt the agency’s services in Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Yulia Malinovski, one of the bills’ authors, explained that “UNRWA is a terrorist organization, and Hamas is an integral part of it. Its existence perpetuates the conflict,” adding that “around half of UNRWA employees are affiliated with Hamas.” Last week, Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency asserted that “UNRWA is a threat to Israel’s national security.”

In January, the Israeli government shared a dossier with the Biden administration that revealed the participation of 12 UNRWA employees in the massacre. Israeli intelligence indicated that approximately 450 UNRWA staff in Gaza were terror operatives at the time of the attack. UNRWA schools continue to teach a curriculum that denies Israel’s legitimacy, incites antisemitism, and encourages violence and jihad, while Hamas uses these schools to store rockets and launch attacks.

On October 22, five Nordic countries issued a joint statement calling “for the proposed legal bills to be reconsidered” and urging “Israel to ensure continued and unhindered humanitarian access for UNRWA to the Palestine refugees that it was set up to serve.” Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew reportedly appealed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition figures, including Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, and Avigdor Lieberman, to stop the legislation.

Responding to the U.S. pressure, Lapid said that “UNRWA played an active role in the brutal massacre on October 7. From its institutions, terrorist attacks against Israel were launched, hostages were held, and young women were raped.” Lieberman confirmed that “messages were received” but that “this law is critical for Israel’s security and it will be brought forward.”

UNRWA was established in 1949 to serve Palestinian refugees displaced during Israel’s War of Independence. UNRWA continues to operate in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan nearly 75 years later. The United States has contributed over $1 billion to UNRWA since 2021 despite the agency providing cover for terrorist activity.

Expert Analysis

“The United States shouldn’t be pressuring Israel to go easy on UNRWA, we should be imposing terrorism sanctions on the agency and cutting off its funding sources. There is no future of peace and stability with UNRWA in the picture — that’s a lesson of October 7.” — Richard Goldberg, FDD Senior Advisor

“UNRWA employees participating in the October 7 massacre was the final straw for the Israeli public. For decades, UNRWA has been an irredeemably corrupt and flawed UN body designed to indulge maximalist Palestinian demands and sustain — rather than resolve — the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” — David May, FDD Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

Related Analysis

“10 Things to Know About the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA),” FDD Insight

“Now that UN admits employee involvement in Oct. 7, it’s time to end UNRWA,” by David May and Richard Goldberg

“Nine UNRWA Staff Dismissed for Possible Ties to October 7 Atrocities,” FDD Flash Brief

“IDF Uncovers Hamas Hideout, Facilities in Medical Clinic and UNRWA School,” FDD Flash Brief