USAID Watchdog Refers Over 100 UNRWA Staff Over Alleged Hamas Ties

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General has referred more than 100 current and former UNRWA employees for potential suspension or debarment. The referrals follow an investigation into alleged connections between agency personnel and the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks in Israel, as well as affiliations with the al-Qassam Brigades and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Specific allegations include a former UNRWA social worker accused of serving as a military communications operative for Hamas and participating in the kidnapping of a civilian from Kibbutz Be’eri. These findings have intensified scrutiny in Washington regarding the oversight of humanitarian aid channels in Gaza. While UNRWA has condemned the October 7 massacre and noted that U.N. investigations into the allegations are ongoing, the report reinforces long-standing concerns from Israel and other critics regarding the potential infiltration of aid organizations by militant groups.