Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is calling for the United States to restore funding to a United Nations agency despite an explosive report.
On Monday, the progressive congresswoman reacted to the news the U.S. would pause funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) amid allegations some of its employees engaged in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in Israel.
“Cutting off support to [UNRWA] – the primary source of humanitarian aid to 2 million+ Gazans – is unacceptable,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
She added, “Among an organization of 13,000 UN aid workers, risking the starvation of millions over grave allegations of 12 is indefensible. The US should restore aid immediately.”
Cutting off support to @UNRWA – the primary source of humanitarian aid to 2 million+ Gazans – is unacceptable.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 29, 2024
Among an organization of 13,000 UN aid workers, risking the starvation of millions over grave allegations of 12 is indefensible.
The US should restore aid immediately.
In a statement on Friday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller noted allegations that 12 UNRWA employees participated in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack in Israel.
“The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them,” Miller said.
The statement comes after the United Nations (UN) said it was investigation the allegations regarding UNRWA employees.
Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General said in a statement, “The Israeli authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7.”
“To protect the agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay,” he added.
Reuters notes, “Lazzarini did not disclose the number of employees allegedly involved in the attacks, nor the nature of their alleged involvement. He said, however, that ‘any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror’ would be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.”
A spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he “is horrified by this news.”
“An urgent and comprehensive independent review of UNRWA will be conducted,” they added.