Trump administration reverses Biden policy, backs Israel's UNRWA ban

New U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Camille Shea articulated support on Tuesday for Israel’s decision to close the controversial UN aid agency UNRWA due to its close ties with the terrorist organization Hamas. 

“It is Israel’s sovereign decision to close UNRWA’s offices in Jerusalem on January 30. The United States supports the implementation of this decision,” Shea stated during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York.

Trump’s envoy Shea also said “We are concerned about reports that returned Israeli hostages were held by Hamas in UN facilities during their prolonged captivity in Gaza. It is vital for a full and independent investigation to assess these very serious allegations,”

“Unfortunately, this follows a pattern of serious allegations on the misuse of UN facilities – particularly UNRWA facilities – by Hamas terrorists,” she added. 

The statements signal that Trump's administration has consequently reversed the former Biden administration’s opposition to the closing down of UNRWA. 

In January 2024, the Biden administration temporarily suspended financial aid to UNRWA after Israel provided incriminating evidence that several UNRWA employees took part in the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 251 people from southern Israeli border communities. However, much of the international aid to UNRWA was restored after a panel report last April whitewashed the UNRWA terrorism scandal. 

The Israeli parliament decided in October to ban UNRWA in Israel, Judea, Samaria and Gaza due to the agency’s strong ties with the terrorist organization Hamas and the involvement of UNRWA employees in the Oct. 7 atrocities.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated at the time that UNRWA needed to be replaced with an alternative aid agency that is not affiliated with Hamas or other terrorist organizations. 

“Since avoiding a humanitarian crisis is also essential, sustained humanitarian aid must remain available in Gaza now and in the future. In the 90 days before this legislation takes effect – and after – we stand ready to work with our international partners to ensure Israel continues to facilitate humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not threaten Israel’s security,” the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem stated. 

Israeli intelligence agencies have estimated that at least 10% of UNRWA’s employees in Gaza are members of Hamas and other terrorist organizations. 

While expressing concerns about UNRWA, the Biden administration joined other nations in opposing Israel’s decision to close UNRWA’s offices.

The UN has strongly opposed Israel’s decision to close UNRWA. 

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, claimed the closure of UNRWA would “heighten instability and deepen despair in the occupied Palestinian territory at a critical moment,” referring to the agency’s work in Judea, Samaria and Gaza. 

“The relentless assault on UNRWA is harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory. It is eroding their trust in the international community, jeopardizing any prospect for peace and security,” Lazzarini argued. 

The United States UN envoy criticized UNRWA for “exaggerating the effects” of the Israeli law to ban UNRWA by “irresponsibly and dangerously… suggesting that they will force the entire humanitarian response to halt.”

“What is needed is a nuanced discussion about how we can ensure that there is no interruption in the delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services,” Shea stated. 

The U.S. envoy rejected the notion that UNRWA is irreplaceable. 

“UNRWA is not – and never has been – the only option for providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Many other agencies have experience and expertise to do this work and have done this work,” she said, backing Israel’s position.

“UNRWA’s work has been tainted and its credibility questioned due to the terrorist ties to Hamas that UNRWA staff had that were exposed as a result of Hamas’s October 7 attack,” Shea said. 

She concluded by urging the international community to prevent Hamas from profiting from the international aid to Gaza. 

“We must ensure Hamas or other terrorist groups are not permitted to seize, divert, or profit from this assistance – and that if it does so, it is reported immediately and held accountable.” 

“The United States is strongly committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement, so that the hostages can return home and the people of Gaza can look toward a brighter future under new leadership,” Shea concluded.