President Biden’s pledge to send $100 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank is at “high risk” of falling into the hands of Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations, according to a federal agency watchdog.
The US Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of the Inspector General said on Friday that the aid funding is “at high risk for potential diversion” and could “fall into the hands of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) including, but not limited to, Hamas.”
“USAID OIG has identified deliberate interventions and efforts to divert humanitarian assistance in areas where FTO activity is prevalent,” the office’s report stated.
“These include: systemic coercion of aid workers by the FTO; imposition of taxes, duties and fees on USAID awardees and beneficiaries; and the FTO’s influence on the selection of beneficiaries and the management of internally displaced persons camps.”
The warning comes as Israeli forces have surrounded Gaza City and are preparing for potential street-to-street fighting following the October 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas on communities across southern Israel.
President Biden’s pledge to send $100 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza and the West Bank is at “high risk” of falling into the hands of Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations, according to a federal agency’s inspector general.REUTERS The United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Inspector General said on Friday that aid funding could “fall into the hands of foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) including, but not limited to, Hamas.” MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Jihadists launched rockets and attacked the Jewish state on multiple fronts to brutally rape, burn alive and behead civilians, killing more than 1,400 in the bloodshed – including 33 US citizens.
More than 200 others were taken hostage back to Gaza.
The USAID inspector general’s office also threatened further prosecution by the Department of Justice if any improper scrutiny of grant applications led to money going into the hands of foreign terrorist organizations.
“USAID OIG has identified deliberate interventions and efforts to divert humanitarian aid in areas where FTO activity is prevalent,” the report said. Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
It notes the $2 million settlement the agency paid in 2018 for allegedly making false certifications on behalf of a Norwegian nonprofit that hid its financial support for Iran, Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP).
Another $700,000 settlement in 2017 resolved allegations that USAID funded three Hezbollah-related organizations through money it gave to the American University of Beirut, according to its inspector general’s report.
“In addition to other pre-award screening measures, USAID requires applicants for grants or cooperative agreements to certify that within three years prior to the award, they have not knowingly engaged in transactions, or provided material support or resources to entities authorized under the US counter. . – terrorism rules,” he said.
Last November, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced $50 million in scholarships and financial aid for refugee students at the American University of Beirut, along with other universities, despite past support for Hezbollah.AFP via Getty Images
Last November, USAID Administrator Samantha Power announced $50 million in scholarships and financial aid for refugee students at the American University of Beirut, along with the American University of Lebanon and the University of Notre Dame-Louaize.
The risk of funding going to terrorist organizations increases when recipients are threatened or need permission from “armed groups,” the inspector general said.
The risk of funding to terrorist organizations increases when groups are under threat or require authorization from “armed groups,” the inspector general said. Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Another risk involves local governing bodies trying to resist or delay monitoring of funds or insufficient supporting documents from the non-governmental organizations involved — especially if any records “appear to be doctored”.
“We should divert Biden’s $100 million aid package to Israel until Hamas is eliminated,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) told The Post. “Stopping Hamas is the best way to help the Palestinian people – not to fund terrorists.”
Biden, 80, announced $100 million in aid to the Palestinian territories as part of his larger $106 billion request to Congress to fund Ukraine and Israel amid their ongoing wars.
On Thursday, the US House of Representatives approved $14.3 billion in additional military aid to Israel alone, overruling the president and Senate leaders who both favored a joint aid package.
A representative for USAID did not respond to a request for comment.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
