Middle East Mayhem Aided by UNRWA?

Why aren't we surprised 12 workers of the UN Palestinian refugee relief agency have been tied to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israelis? Intelligence reports also confirms up to 10% of its Gaza staff have ties to Islamist militant groups.

You might recall then-President Trump defunded the United Nations Relief & Works Agency in 2018, but his successor, Joe Biden, refunded it in 2021. If the intelligence reports are accurate, then, US dollars arguably indirectly helped fund the deadliest assault on Jews since the Holocaust. The reports were reviewed by the WSJ & here's its “lowlights”: “Six of the UNRWA workers part of the wave of Palestinian militants who killed 1,200 people … Two helped kidnap Israelis. Two others were tracked to sites where scores of Israeli civilians were shot & killed. Others coordinated logistics for the assault, including procuring weapons. Of the 12 UNRWA employees with links to the attacks, seven were primary or secondary school teachers, including two math teachers, two Arabic language teachers & one primary school teacher.”

The stunning information has led Washington & other countries to again “suspend” aid to UNRWA. And, not just because of those singled out in the latest intelligence report, but also because nearly half of all UNRWA employees “also have close relative who also had official ties to the militant groups, especially Hamas.” Nor has it gone unnoticed that UNRWA has been among the biggest advocates for a “cease fire, as Hamas says 26K people have been killed. UNRWA has reportedly “fired” several staffers without explanation & declined to comment on the report, other than to promise an “internal investigation.” Un Sec.-Gen Antonio Guterres said he was “personally horrified” by the allegations. But, UNRWA leader Philippe Lazzarini “criticized Western nations for pausing aid at a time when Gaza is facing a humanitarian crisis” some of his own may have helped instigate. Only in the Middle East?

Davd Soul