The United States has broadened its investigation into the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), now targeting a minimum of 1,500 staff members suspected of ties to Hamas. The probe is being run by the inspector general of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and is being coordinated with the State Department to compile a blacklist that would block implicated employees from moving to other UN‑system aid bodies.
Evidence of direct involvement
Investigators say they have uncovered evidence that several UNRWA employees took part in the Hamas‑led terror attack of 7 October. One school principal has been identified as a member of Hamas’s East Jabaliya Battalion and has been formally flagged for the State Department.
Official comments
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the findings “the USAID inspector general's cases are corroborating the obvious parent‑subsidiary relationship between UNRWA and Hamas in Gaza.” The same source added that, “If UNRWA was not a UN organization, it would be undeniably facing terrorist sanctions based on what the USAID inspector general has uncovered.”
Potential punitive measures
The Trump administration is reportedly weighing two major actions. First, it could remove UNRWA’s diplomatic immunity under US law, exposing the agency to lawsuits from victims of terrorism. Second, officials are considering a full designation of UNRWA as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO), a step that would trigger Treasury‑Department sanctions and could force the agency’s closure.
Three senior Trump‑era officials and other congressional sources have confirmed that the administration is actively discussing these options.
Political pressure
Republican lawmakers have been vocal in demanding harsh measures. Senator Tom Cotton (R‑Ark.) and Representative Mike Lawler (R‑N.Y.) have called for UNRWA’s complete dismantling, citing the USAID inspector‑general’s findings. Senators Ted Cruz (R‑Texas) and Bill Hagerty (R‑Tenn.) have also voiced support for an FTO designation, particularly after the agency’s alleged refusal to cooperate with the probe.
Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that existing legal mechanisms would allow the president to impose terrorism sanctions on UNRWA if he so chooses.
Legal backdrop
The Justice Department maintains that UNRWA does not enjoy any special privilege or immunity, meaning the Treasury Department could impose sanctions without further hurdles. Such sanctions would likely strip the agency of its diplomatic protections and open it to civil litigation from terror victims.
Implications for the UN system
Designating UNRWA as an FTO would have far‑reaching consequences. Beyond the loss of diplomatic immunity and exposure to lawsuits, the move could strain relations between the United Nations and the United States, and potentially affect aid delivery to Gaza.
The administration frames the contemplated actions as part of a broader effort to crack down on terrorist organisations and their supporters. One analyst described the step as “a significant step in the US's efforts to combat terrorism and protect its interests in the region.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and the ultimate outcome for UNRWA – whether it faces sanctions, legal action, or a forced shutdown – is still uncertain.