UNRWA Is ‘Subsidiary of Hamas’: Rubio Asserts UN Agency Will Play No Role in Gaza’s Future

Latest Developments

• Rubio Blasts UNRWA: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) of being “a subsidiary of Hamas” on October 24 during his visit to Israel. Speaking at the newly established Civil-Military Coordination Center overseeing the Gaza ceasefire, Rubio added that UNRWA “is not going to play any role” in the delivery of aid to Gaza. Israel presented evidence throughout the war that some of the organization’s employees participated in the Hamas-led atrocities on October 7, 2023. Rubio stressed that the United States is “willing to work” with the “conglomeration” of other UN and humanitarian organizations to deliver aid to the enclave “if they can make it work.”
• State Department Rebukes ICJ Ruling: After the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on October 22 that Israel was obligated to allow UN agencies into Gaza to facilitate aid to Palestinians, the U.S. State Department denounced the decision as “corrupt.” “This so-called ‘court’ issues a nakedly politicized non-binding ‘advisory opinion’ [that] unfairly bashes Israel and gives UNRWA a free pass for its deep entanglement with and material support for Hamas terrorism,” the department wrote. After cutting ties with UNRWA, Israel stressed that it is “absurd” to suggest that the agency cannot be replaced by other humanitarian organizations for the purpose of to delivering aid.
• Rubio Says Israel Must Be ‘Comfortable’ With Foreign Troops in Gaza: During his remarks on October 24, Rubio also highlighted the need for Israel to be “comfortable” with prospective countries sending their troops as part of any International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza. “Obviously, as you put together this force, it’ll have to be countries that Israel is comfortable with as well,” he stated. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly strongly opposed to the inclusion of any Turkish troops in Gaza as part of the ISF. Israel has refused to allow a Turkish rescue delegation with heavy equipment into Gaza until Hamas returns the remains of all the slain hostages it still holds captive.

FDD Expert Response

“Secretary Rubio was spot on in his assessment of UNRWA and why it can have no role in the future of Gaza, and hopefully, the United States will push to dismantle the entire agency in the context of Palestinian deradicalization. But it’s important to understand that the broader UN humanitarian system still does not recognize Hamas as a terrorist group, which means UN control of vetting and aid distribution writ large could still become the lifeline Hamas needs.” — Richard Goldberg, Senior Advisor

“UNRWA, which held a monopoly on Gaza aid for decades, was deeply infiltrated by Hamas. Today, UNRWA has been replaced in the enclave by a combination of over a dozen UN agencies and NGOs that are not in bed with the terror organization. If President Trump’s vision of peace and prosperity is to be realized, UNRWA must never return to Gaza.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“Turkey has no business deploying troops in Gaza. Israeli suspicions that Ankara would try to use this as an opportunity to arm Hamas are not only justified but likely. If the peace process fails, this would also mean that there would be an armed military presence of a NATO country in Gaza, standing shoulder to shoulder with a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that would not shy away from using its capabilities in support of Hamas.” — Sinan Ciddi, Senior Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“‘Days of Destiny’: In Israel, Rubio Expresses Optimism Around Gaza Deal as U.S. Warns Against West Bank Annexation,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Releases 2 More Slain Hostages, 13 Still Held Captive by Terror Group,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘Impatience With Hamas’: Vance Expresses Confidence in Prospects for ‘Durable’ Peace in Gaza,” FDD Flash Brief

“Witkoff and Kushner Arrive in Israel Following Hamas’s Deadly Ceasefire Violation,” FDD Flash Brief