U.S. Senator Tim Scott, along with Senator Pete Ricketts and 24 other Republican senators, expressed support for the Trump administration’s decision to exclude the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from participating in the Gaza peace process. The lawmakers cited concerns about UNRWA’s alleged connections to Hamas.
“As discussions on Gaza’s future continue, we must avoid repeating the mistakes that empowered the terror group to take hold in the first place,” they wrote. “For decades, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has operated in Gaza, yet extensive reporting, investigations, and intelligence assessments documented systemic infiltration of the agency by Hamas and other U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations.”
The letter noted that at least twelve UNRWA employees were involved in attacks led by Hamas on October 7, and estimated that around ten percent of UNRWA’s staff in Gaza have links to terrorist groups. The senators also referenced reports of aid theft by Hamas, weapons found at UNRWA schools, tunnel infrastructure near its facilities, and buildings used to hold hostages.
“In response to these alarming findings, the United States rightfully suspended funding to UNRWA and Israel barred the agency from operating on its territory,” they continued. “These steps were necessary because UNRWA has shown it cannot maintain neutrality or operate without being co-opted by terrorists. During your recent visit to Israel, you reaffirmed UNRWA’s ties to terrorism, describing the agency as ‘a subsidiary of Hamas’ and making clear that it ‘is not going to play any role’ in the delivery of aid to Gaza. Reinstating UNRWA would only recreate the very conditions that allowed Hamas to entrench itself and exert control in Gaza.”
The senators urged that “UNRWA play no role in any efforts to stabilize, govern, and rebuild Gaza.” They encouraged working instead with international partners free from terrorist influence.
Additional signatories included Senators Jim Risch, Steve Daines, Ted Budd, Cynthia Lummis, Tommy Tuberville, Bill Hagerty, John Cornyn, Roger Wicker, Tom Cotton, Susan Collins, Bernie Moreno, Chuck Grassley, John Boozman, Tim Sheehy, Lindsey Graham, Deb Fischer, Shelley Moore Capito, Ted Cruz, James Lankford, Mike Crapo, Mike Lee, Dave McCormick, Katie Britt and John Hoeven.
“We appreciate your leadership and stand prepared to work with the Trump administration to support Gaza reconstruction efforts and ensure lasting security for Israel,” concluded the letter.
