House Republicans are demanding testimony from the head of a United Nations agency that allegedly helps Hamas with “food, fuel and supplies” intended for humanitarian aid amid the terrorist group’s war against Israel.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday sent a letter to the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) asking him about “concerning reports” that his agency is funneling “hundreds of millions of dollars” to Hamas and other foreign terrorist organizations.
“Our constituents are horrified that their taxpayer dollars could have supported, through UNRWA’s failures, Hamas terrorists,” said panel chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and members Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Chris Smith (R-Fla.), -NJ) and Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) wrote.
“Therefore, we ask that you appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to answer our questions and address the concerns of the American people. We request that you indicate your willingness and availability to appear before the Committee no later than January 24, 2024.”
House Republicans are demanding testimony from Philippe Lazzarini, director of a United Nations agency that supposedly helps Hamas with “food, fuel and supplies” amid its war against Israel. Getty Images “Our constituents are horrified that their taxpayer money may have supported, through UNRWA’s failures, Hamas terrorists,” the panel wrote in its letter to Lazzarini. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
As the humanitarian agency’s largest donor, the Biden administration has faced serious questions about its use of funds after Hamas’s invasion of Israel on October 7, when 1,200 people, including 33 US citizens, were killed.
The State Department contributed approximately $344 million to UNRWA in 2022 during the Biden presidency, after the Trump administration cut its funding in 2018, referring to it as “hopelessly flawed.”
In total, his administration has provided more than $730 million in American taxpayer money to the organization since January 2021, which provides assistance in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Biden, 81, also announced another tranche of $100 million in aid to UNRWA last October.
“The days of UNRWA endorsing Palestinian grievance and inciting the diversion of humanitarian aid toward terrorist support are over,” Issa told The Post in a statement Tuesday.
“We now know that UNWRA is riddled with terrorist sympathizers, that its facilities have stockpiled rockets for use against civilians, and that its schools have relentlessly taught hatred of the Israeli people.”
“The days of UNWRA endorsing Palestinian grievance and inciting the diversion of humanitarian aid toward terrorist support are over,” Issa told The Post in a statement Tuesday. fake images
The Republican lawmakers took note of recent Israel Defense Forces and media reports showing that “Hamas terrorists are stealing UNRWA food and supplies intended for humanitarian purposes,” while adding that the ” diversion” towards the terrorist group “is not a new problem.
The Office of Inspector General of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) released a report in November saying that it “has identified deliberate interference and efforts to divert humanitarian assistance in regions where the FTO [foreign terrorist organization] “The activity is frequent.”
“This includes: systemic coercion of humanitarian workers by FTOs; imposition of taxes, duties and fees on USAID awardees and beneficiaries; and the influence of FTOs on beneficiary selection and management of IDP camps,” the report states.
A federal watchdog “identified deliberate interference and efforts to divert humanitarian assistance in regions where FTO [foreign terrorist organization] “The activity is frequent.” AFP via Getty Images
The federal watchdog determined that Biden’s $100 million in funding was “at high risk of potential diversion” and could “fall into the hands of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), including, but not limited to, Hamas.”
He threatened further prosecution by the Justice Department if there was an inadequate investigation of grant applications that allowed money to flow to terrorism.
Previous cases have ended in six- or seven-figure settlements with non-governmental groups that violate U.S. terrorist sanctions.
USAID’s inspector general determined that Biden’s $100 million in funding was at “high risk of potential diversion” and could “fall into the hands of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).” AFP via Getty Images
UNRWA has also hired teachers who “regularly call for the murder of Jews” and teach from textbooks “that glorify terrorism, encourage martyrdom, demonize Israelis and incite anti-Semitism,” according to a March 2023 joint report by the non-governmental organization UN Watch and the Israeli non-profit Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education.
“We also remain concerned about UNRWA’s repeated failure to respect United Nations standards of neutrality in the agency’s operations in Gaza,” McCaul and his colleagues added in their letter.
“Hamas tunnels have been found suspiciously close to UNRWA schools, as these terrorists continue to use children and their schools as human shields,” they said, citing a Times of Israel report.
Members of the House panel also cited a Jerusalem Post article that revealed that one of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas back to Gaza had been “held in the attic of a UNRWA teacher.” fake images
Members of the House panel also cited a Jerusalem Post article that revealed that one of the 240 hostages taken by Hamas back to Gaza had been “held in the attic of a UNRWA teacher” for nearly 50 days before being released to Israel.
A UNRWA spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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