Democratic lawmakers are pushing a bill that could see a return of monetary support to a UN agency with alleged connections to Hamas. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been accused of having ties to Hamas, a group considered a terrorist organization by the U.S.
Supporters of the bill suggest that funds be given to UNRWA to aid Palestinian Refugees. They consider it necessary for ensuring humanitarian support, refuge, education, healthcare, and social services to nearly 5.7 million Palestinians who currently live in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.
The UNRWA has been without U.S. funding since 2018, when the Trump administration made the decision to cut it, citing concerns about UNRWA’s alleged links to Hamas. The former administration also mentioned the lack of progress towards peace between Israel and Palestine as a reason for discontinuing the funding.
However, critics argue against the bill, saying that it would support an organization that allegedly supports a terrorist group. The lack of reforms and accountability within the UNRWA is also a point of criticism. The law, if passed, would countermand one of the significant foreign policies of the Trump administration.
With tensions in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not showing significant signs of reduction, the decision on whether to restore funding to the UNRWA remains a contentious subject. The lawmakers have argued that sufficient humanitarian aid to the Palestinians can serve as a crucial step towards building peace in the region.
