US urges donors to abandon UNRWA funding as UN defends agency's mission

The United States has called on donor nations to cease funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), accusing the organization of being infiltrated by Hamas and failing to address the needs of Palestinians effectively. At UNRWA's annual pledging conference in July, U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos criticized the agency for continuing to promote a flawed approach, claiming it has become a 'subsidiary of Hamas.' He argued that UNRWA schools in Gaza may be indoctrinating children with anti-Israel sentiment and that some employees were involved in the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Instead, Bartos promoted the U.S.-backed Board of Peace, a governance structure aimed at fostering peace and economic recovery in Gaza. In contrast, the United Nations defended UNRWA, stating that its officials have taken strong actions to address concerns and maintain the agency's mission.