Restore U.S. funding to UNRWA: VT senator faces opposition

Senator Peter Welch of Vermont has reintroduced a bill to restore U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The agency provides essential aid to people in Gaza and the West Bank. However, it faces serious accusations. Some of its employees have been linked to Hamas, the group responsible for the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This has sparked a heated debate in Congress about whether the U.S. should continue supporting the agency.

What happened with UNRWA and its ties to terrorism?

In January 2024, the U.S. stopped funding UNRWA. This came after Israel accused at least 12 UNRWA employees of having ties to Hamas during the October 7 attack. The Israeli government believes that these workers played a role in the violence. In response, UNRWA fired nine of its employees in August 2024. However, the controversy surrounding the agency’s involvement with Hamas continues to raise concerns. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for those connected to Hamas within the agency to be held accountable to restore peace.

Welch’s efforts to restore funding

Senator Welch’s bill aims to restore funding to UNRWA, which he says is crucial for providing humanitarian aid in Gaza. However, his bill faces strong opposition. Many Republican lawmakers, along with some Democrats, are against restoring funds to an agency they believe supports terrorist groups. President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order in February 2024 to cut funding to UNRWA, has been a vocal opponent. He claims that the agency has been infiltrated by members of terrorist groups like Hamas, which have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. State Department.

Trump’s executive order and the strong opposition to UNRWA funding

President Trump’s opposition to UNRWA funding began in 2018 when he cut off U.S. contributions to the agency. In February 2024, Trump signed an executive order that officially blocked any future funding to UNRWA, citing the agency’s ties to terrorist organizations. The order pointed out that several UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, further justifying his decision to stop U.S. financial support. This move reflects growing concerns about the agency’s role in Gaza and its connections to violent groups. Many are left wondering how to restore trust in the organization.

Elise Stefanik pledges to dismantle UNRWA completely

Elise Stefanik, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations-designate, has made it clear that she wants to take stronger action. Stefanik has pledged not only to defund UNRWA but also to dismantle it entirely. In a recent speech to the Anti-Defamation League’s “Never Is Now” Summit, she called UNRWA a “pro-Hamas terrorist front group.” She promised that, if confirmed, she would push for the complete shutdown of the agency, citing its alleged connections to terrorism as the main reason for her stance. She called for steps to restore America’s stance against terrorism.

In March 2024, Congress passed a law that blocks any new funding for UNRWA until March 2025. This decision follows growing concerns over the agency’s links to Hamas and other terrorist groups. The U.S. has historically been the largest contributor to UNRWA, providing about 30% of its budget. In 2023, the U.S. contributed approximately $370 million to the agency. However, this funding has been frozen for now, with many lawmakers calling for a reevaluation of the agency’s activities before any future contributions are made. Whether funds will be restored or not remains uncertain.

Senator Welch’s previous attempts to restore funding

Senator Welch has made several attempts to restore funding to UNRWA. In November 2024, he introduced a bill known as the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act. However, this bill did not make it through the Senate due to significant opposition. Many Democratic senators, including Chris Van Hollen, Amy Klobuchar, and Bernie Sanders, co-sponsored the bill, but it failed to gain traction in the previously Democratic-controlled Senate. Despite these setbacks, Welch remains determined to restore funding, citing the humanitarian work the agency does in Gaza and the West Bank.

Lawsuits against UNRWA over support for Hamas

In June 2024, more than 100 Israelis filed lawsuits against UNRWA, accusing the agency of providing material support to Hamas. The plaintiffs claim that the agency helped facilitate the October 7 attack by supporting the terrorist group. These lawsuits add to the growing list of legal challenges facing UNRWA, further damaging its reputation. Many argue that the agency should be held accountable for its alleged involvement with Hamas, while others believe the agency’s work in Gaza is vital for the local population and needs to be supported to restore normalcy.

Senator Welch has also faced criticism for his voting record on military aid to Israel. In 2024, he voted to limit the sale of offensive weapons to Israel. He also voted against a defense appropriations package in April 2024, arguing that it included too much military aid to Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas. These votes have sparked controversy, with some accusing Welch of being too critical of Israel’s actions during the war. However, Welch has maintained that his focus is on human rights and the protection of civilians, regardless of the country involved.