The Biden administration sent millions of dollars in government aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in fiscal year 2024 amid terrorism-related allegations against federal employees, before the government halted new funding. .
The administration announced last week that it would impose a new moratorium on funding over allegations that some of its members were “involved” in the Oct. 7 Hamast terrorist attack in Israel. The U.S. government had already allocated $51 million for FY24 before the suspension.
The funds came about as a result of emergency appeals to Gaza and the West Bank following the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and the resulting war.
“The decision to suspend came well after the first grant of $51 million from UNRWA’s Opt Flash Appeal was disbursed,” a State Department spokesperson told FOX News Digital. “This funding was mandated early in the crisis in mid-November, approximately 100 days before the January 26 suspension.”
Some politicians criticized the spending after the State Department’s funding was defunded. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday slammed President Biden’s support on the floor while calling for stronger retaliation against Iranian proxies.
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“As we have said before, there is no room in the future of the Palestinian people for those weary of corruption and terrorism, which is why Senate Republicans will not accept any bill that would allow them to fund UNRWA with taxpayer dollars. No,” McConnell said.
According to an investigation by Fox News Digital, from 2009 to 2024, just under $4 billion of taxpayer dollars went to UNRWA. (Mahmoud Issa/SOPA Image/LightRocket, Getty Images)
At the time the moratorium was implemented, approximately $300,000 had been approved by UNRWA but had not yet been obligated, a State Department spokesperson said. As a result of the suspension, approved funds were frozen.
“No further funding will be approved for UNRWA during the suspension period,” the ministry said. “The majority of UNRWA’s funding comes from donors outside the United States.”
The money will be used for food assistance, protection, shelter and settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, according to a USAID fact sheet.
The Biden administration is sent billions He reversed former President Trump’s decision to cut funding to UNRWA, insisting that UNRWA provides desperately needed humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories, and has cost taxpayers millions of dollars in recent years. Donated to UNRWA.
Critics have long argued that UNRWA has direct ties to Hamas terrorists.
On Tuesday, New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith introduced a bill known as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency Suspension Act of 2024 that would cut off U.S. funding.
Twelve UNRWA employees are said to have been “involved” in the October 7 attack, and additional US funding could be reinstated depending on the UN investigation.
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Displaced Palestinians prepare temporary shelter at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency-run camp in Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip, Sunday, November 19, 2023. (Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Citing information provided by Israeli authorities, UNRWA said it fired the accused staff last week and announced an investigation “to protect the agency’s ability to provide humanitarian assistance” and “to uncover the truth without delay.” Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters on Tuesday that the federal government supports “UNRWA’s work” and called it “important” to the region.
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“There is no other humanitarian agency in Gaza that can provide food and medicine on the scale that UNRWA can,” Miller said. “We want the work to continue, which is why the United Nations takes this matter seriously, investigates it, and holds those found involved in wrongdoing accountable and takes any other action. It is extremely important that appropriate measures be taken to prevent this from happening again. ”
FOX News’ Peter Aitken contributed to this report.
