The House Foreign Affairs Committee expects to launch an investigation into the United Nations, three members of the committee told The Post.
The committee plans to focus on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East, known as UNRWA.
The organization has come under fire for allegedly supporting terrorism after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
“There is extensive evidence of a disturbing relationship between UNRWA and Hamas, and it goes much deeper than is known,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calf.), the committee’s senior member. “Congress must now investigate and reveal how much UNRWA knows, what it is doing, and what it may be hiding from the world.”
UNRWA, officially dedicated to humanitarian aid, has long faced criticism for allegedly providing support to terrorists.
And those voices got louder after the Hamas massacre.
Members of the council said they wanted UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini to answer questions. AP
In November, an Israeli hostage freed by Hamas during a temporary lull in fighting said they were kept for 50 days in the attic of an UNRWA teacher, the Jerusalem Post reported.
Hamas terrorist tunnels have repeatedly been found in and around UNRWA schools.
In 2018, former President Trump cut aid to UNRWA, with his State Department denouncing the organization as an “irreversible operation”.
Rep. House GOP veteran Darrell Issa says UNRWA investigation is coming in 2024. Paul Martinka
President Biden restored the funding in April 2021. In June, the United States raised more than $153 million to UNRWA, the organization announced in a press release.
The United States has provided at least $730 million since Biden took office.
Any congressional investigation would go through the body’s oversight subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.).
UNRWA has long faced accusations of supporting terrorism, according to reports. AFP via Getty Images
“He also supports the investigation, in short,” Mast’s spokesman said, adding that the congressman hopes to draw UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini to answer questions — although as a Swiss citizen, the US cannot compel him to testify.
Although the Chamber does not have jurisdiction over the United Nations, it does have jurisdiction over the State Department — which oversees US relations with UNRWA.
One person on the committee said they would be prepared to withhold funding next year if there was any non-compliance.
“The rot is systemic … and the State Department knows this,” said Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, who said he was eager to cooperate with the investigation.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
