USAID OIG Refers 108 UNRWA Staff for Debarment Amid Probe of 1,500 Terror-Tied Employees
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 13
USAID OIG Refers 108 UNRWA Staff for Debarment Amid Probe of 1,500 Terror-Tied Employees
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 13
Summary
108 current or former UNRWA staff were referred by the USAID inspector general to the State Department for suspension or exclusion from U.S.-funded work, with investigators citing Hamas membership or participation in the Oct. 7 attack.
The referrals came from a broader USAID OIG investigation into at least 1,500 current or former UNRWA employees in Gaza for alleged ties to foreign terrorist organizations, far beyond the narrower U.N. review conducted in 2024.
USAID OIG said those flagged included school principals, teachers, security staff and medical workers; examples cited ranged from a Hamas sniper and explosives tracker to a principal linked to a military unit and tunnel infrastructure.
The State Department has already barred one referred principal, Hafez Mousa Mohammed Mousa, and the inspector general said more State Department referrals and possible Justice Department criminal referrals are expected.
The findings are intensifying U.S. pressure to keep UNRWA cut off from American funding and to plan a replacement for its Gaza aid role without disrupting food, health and vaccination services.
With UNRWA staff tied to terror, how can critical aid reach Gaza without potentially funding Hamas?
A UN court cleared UNRWA, but a U.S. probe found terror ties. Which truth will determine Gaza's fate?
UNRWA Under Fire: USAID Finds 101 Staff Linked to Hamas, Prompting U.S. Funding Halt and Diplomatic Rift
Overview
The USAID Inspector General's investigation into UNRWA uncovered evidence that a significant number of its Gaza employees were linked to Hamas or other terrorist groups, echoing Israel's long-standing claims of infiltration. These findings led to calls for drastic changes to UNRWA, including its possible dissolution or designation as a terrorist organization. In response, the U.S. government halted funding in early 2025, intensifying scrutiny of UNRWA's operations. Allegations included direct involvement of UNRWA staff in the October 7 attacks, raising urgent questions about aid diversion and prompting international debate over the future of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.