UNRWA Staff Alleged in Oct. 7 Attacks: Funding, Investigations, and International Response
When the gunfire on Oct. 7 shattered the Gaza Strip, a hidden layer of reporters and aid workers emerged into the spotlight.
In late 2023, Canadian media watchdog HonestReporting released Photographers Without Borders, a report that exposed a network of Gaza‑based freelance photojournalists who had been operating close to Hamas leadership during the attacks. The photographers were linked to major outlets such as the Associated Press, Reuters, The New York Times and CNN. The outlets denied any responsibility, describing the contributors as independent.
The fallout soon shifted focus to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In January 2024, Israeli intelligence and testimony from former hostages suggested that at least 12 UNRWA employees had taken part in the Oct. 7 assault, handling logistics, kidnapping and, in some cases, murder. The first public account came from Israeli journalist Almog Boker, who cited a former hostage who had spent nearly 50 days in the attic of a UNRWA‑employed teacher.
UNRWA’s own investigation, announced in August 2024, led to the dismissal of nine staff members suspected of involvement and confirmed the deaths of two additional employees. The agency emphasized that only a small number of its personnel were implicated and denied any systematic infiltration.
The accusations triggered a swift diplomatic and financial response. In 2023, 17 countries—including the United States, Germany and France—suspended funding to UNRWA. By early 2024, all donors except the United States had resumed contributions. The European Union remains the largest single donor, providing more than $100 million annually, according to reports. Under the Trump administration, the United States has refused to resume its $344 million annual contribution and has reportedly considered terrorism‑related sanctions and the revocation of UNRWA’s diplomatic immunity.
U.S. federal investigators have opened probes into approximately 1,500 UNRWA‑linked individuals in Gaza—roughly 12 % of the agency’s personnel in the territory—to determine whether these individuals have ties to terrorist organizations.
UNRWA’s unique mandate—providing relief, education, health care and social services to Palestinian refugees and their descendants—has long been a point of contention. Unlike other UN refugee agencies, Palestinian refugee status is inheritable, allowing children and grandchildren of refugees to retain that status. Critics argue that this arrangement perpetuates the conflict rather than resolving it.
The agency’s operational footprint spans five areas: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem). Established in 1949 by the UN General Assembly, its mandate is renewed every three years. The most recent renewal extends until 30 June 2026.
The Oct. 7 attacks, carried out by Hamas and affiliated groups, resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, including 828 civilians, and the capture of 251 hostages. The attacks triggered Israel’s large‑scale military operation in Gaza and a broader escalation involving Iran‑backed militias.
UNRWA’s continued operation amid these allegations raises questions about the oversight of humanitarian agencies in conflict zones. While the agency maintains that it has robust neutrality safeguards, the scale of the investigations suggests that further scrutiny may be required.
The situation remains fluid. UNRWA has not yet disclosed the outcome of the U.S. investigations, and the United States has not formally announced sanctions. The European Union continues to fund the agency, and other donors have largely resumed support.
The international community watches closely as the United Nations, donor governments and the agency itself navigate the legal, humanitarian and diplomatic challenges posed by these allegations.
