UNRWA Accused of Colluding with Terror Groups

A new report by UN Watch has exposed significant allegations of collaboration between the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and terrorist organizations including Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The 51-page dossier claims that UNRWA officials routinely meet with terrorist leaders, praising each other for their so-called 'cooperation,' which has allowed these groups to influence the agency's policies and practices. Notably, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini brokered a deal permitting Hamas leader Fathi Al-Sharif to remain in influential educational roles, despite his history of glorifying terrorism. The report also highlights how terrorist groups actively obstruct UNRWA's attempts to implement policies such as biometric identification and a code of ethics addressing LGBTQ rights. UN Watch argues that this relationship undermines UNRWA's humanitarian mission, given the agency's substantial budget of $1.5 billion, primarily funded by Western nations. This revelation intensifies scrutiny on UNRWA amidst ongoing debates regarding its operational integrity and funding.