USAID identifies over 100 UNRWA employees linked to Hamas

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) reported on Friday that it had identified more than 100 current and former employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) with alleged ties to Hamas, including individuals linked to the terror group's Oct. 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.

“Among the individuals referred were UNRWA school principals, teachers, security personnel, attendants, psychosocial counselors, and medical professionals,” the USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) stated.

One example cited in the report concerns a Gazan school principal who was allegedly employed in the chemical department of a Hamas military manufacturing unit while his school reportedly contained firing positions and a tunnel shaft beneath the complex. The report also identifies a computer teacher allegedly linked to the intelligence unit of Hamas' military wing, al-Qassam, as well as another teacher who was reportedly serving simultaneously as a Hamas sniper specialist.

The USAID OIG probe remains ongoing as it works to prevent American aid from reaching terrorist organizations such as Hamas.

In January 2024, the U.S. and other donor nations temporarily suspended aid to UNRWA after Israel provided evidence that some of its employees cooperated with Hamas and participated in the Oct. 7 attack.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly told UN Chief António Guterres at the time, "There must be complete accountability for anyone who participated in the heinous attacks." Israel’s then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant disclosed the names of at least 12 UNRWA workers who were involved in the attack and another 30 UNRWA employees who assisted.

However, a panel report released in April 2024 largely dismissed allegations of systemic links between UNRWA and Hamas while acknowledging that the agency required reforms. The U.S. and other donor nations subsequently accepted the report’s conclusions and gradually resumed funding to UNRWA.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry slammed the panel report, arguing that UNRWA had been deeply infiltrated by Hamas and other terrorist organizations.

"Hamas has infiltrated UNRWA so deeply that it is no longer possible to determine where UNRWA ends and where Hamas begins. More than 2,135 UNRWA workers are members of either Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), while one-fifth of UNRWA school administrators are Hamas members," the foreign ministry stated.

In October 2024, the Israeli Knesset voted to ban UNRWA, arguing that the agency maintained extensive ties to Hamas and that other organizations should take responsibility for distributing humanitarian aid in Gaza.

“Since avoiding a humanitarian crisis is also essential, sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza now and in the future. In the 90 days before this legislation takes effect – and after – we stand ready to work with our international partners to ensure Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not threaten Israel’s security,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said.

In January 2025, the Trump administration backed Israel’s decision.

“It is Israel’s sovereign decision to close UNRWA’s offices in Jerusalem on January 30. The United States supports the implementation of this decision,” the U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Camille Shea said.