In a bold and unprecedented move, approximately 100 Israeli families, who tragically lost loved ones in the harrowing October 7 massacre, are preparing to launch a federal lawsuit in New York against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The lawsuit, which has been widely reported by Kan News, accuses UNRWA of complicity in crimes against humanity and providing support to terrorist activities, particularly those of Hamas.
Allegations of Enabling Terrorism
The lawsuit alleges that UNRWA's actions directly facilitated Hamas in executing the October 7 massacre and committing other heinous crimes. According to the plaintiffs, UNRWA has operated a sophisticated money laundering scheme over the years, funneling aid funds intended for the civilian population of Gaza to Hamas, a group internationally recognized as a terrorist organization. This diversion of funds is claimed to have financed the construction of terror tunnels and the establishment of command centers beneath UNRWA facilities.
Approximately 100 Israelis whose loved ones were injured or murdered in the October 7 massacre will file a federal lawsuit in New York against UNRWA.
— Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) June 24, 2024
The suit alleges that UNRWA allowed Hamas to carry out the massacre and commit crimes against humanity. pic.twitter.com/MXApJ3lwy8
Shockingly, the lawsuit further alleges that some UNRWA employees actively participated in the October 7 massacre. These claims, if proven, would reveal a deeply ingrained relationship between UNRWA and Hamas, fundamentally undermining the organization's stated mission of providing humanitarian aid.
Seeking Accountability in New York
The legal action will be filed in New York, where UNRWA's central offices and senior staff are based. The plaintiffs are not only seeking justice for their personal losses but also aim to hold UNRWA accountable for its alleged role in facilitating terrorist activities that jeopardize the safety and security of Israeli civilians.
Previous Legal Actions and Allegations
This lawsuit is not the first of its kind. Earlier this year, survivors of the October 7 attacks and families of hostages taken by Hamas filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court against a major UNRWA donor. Represented by the National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), the plaintiffs argued that the donor's contributions indirectly supported the massacre that claimed over 1,200 innocent lives.
“There can be no more ifs, buts or maybes. @UNRWA has become an inseparable arm of Hamas and a systematic incubator of hate, incitement & terror."
— Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ (@Ostrov_A) March 12, 2024
See more from my ILTV interview about our major lawsuit against UNRWA USA. pic.twitter.com/uwpZWMxT3W
The NJAC's filing in Delaware against UNRWA-USA, the largest private donor in the United States to the United Nations' Palestinian relief agency, highlighted that over the past year, UNRWA-USA transferred approximately $3.8 million to UNRWA, including more than $600,000 for its education system. The lawsuit asserts that this education system "glorifies and teaches terrorism," further incriminating UNRWA.
UNRWA's Response and Continuing Operations
Despite these serious allegations, UNRWA has not yet publicly responded to the impending lawsuit. However, in the face of earlier legal challenges, UNRWA-USA defended its actions, stating it would continue its "tireless efforts to help Palestine refugees in desperate need in Gaza."
UNRWA claims to provide essential services, including running schools and healthcare clinics, and distributing humanitarian aid across Gaza, the West Bank, and the region. However, Israel's accusations that UNRWA employs active Hamas members and ignores the militant group's use of its facilities have cast a long shadow over the agency's operations.
Evidence of Complicity
Recent actions by Israel have further supported these claims. Last month, a precise strike by Israel targeted a Hamas war room and weapons depot hidden inside an UNRWA school in Nuseirat, Gaza. Israeli intelligence indicated that the war room had been used to coordinate attacks against Israeli troops, with ten of the fifteen terrorists killed in the strike being members of Hamas's elite Nukhba Force, likely involved in the October 7 massacre.
It's been 24 hours and I still have not heard one voice from the UN or EU condemn #Hamas or speak out against the video yesterday showing them using an @UNRWA facility in Rafah.
— Arsen Ostrovsky 🎗️ (@Ostrov_A) May 15, 2024
But they keep issuing ultimatums to Israel against Rafah op.
The hypocrisy is sickening! pic.twitter.com/fzASuYGfxi
Additionally, aerial surveillance footage released by Israel showed armed Palestinians inside an UNRWA compound in Rafah, with some seen placing assault rifles in UN-marked vehicles. This evidence has reinforced the narrative that UNRWA facilities have been exploited for terrorist activities. Mark Dubowitz of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies remarked on the casual presence of terrorists in UNRWA compounds, highlighting the deep-rooted connections between the agency and Hamas: “What is perhaps most remarkable — but by no means surprising — about this footage is the nonchalance with which the terrorists appear to conduct themselves in the UNRWA compound. They clearly feel at home. And why not? By now, it is abundantly clear that this supposedly neutral humanitarian agency has long served as an undeclared arm of both the Hamas government and armed wing, providing welfare and employment services as well as infrastructure and other material assistance for terrorism.”
The Path Forward
As the families of the October 7 massacre victims seek justice, the international community watches closely. The lawsuit against UNRWA is a significant step in holding organizations accountable for their alleged roles in enabling terrorism. The outcome of this legal battle could set a precedent for future actions against entities accused of complicity in terrorist activities, aiming to ensure that aid intended for humanitarian purposes does not end up supporting violence and extremism.
