U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R) joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and 23 other Republican senators in sending a letter to President Donald Trump, urging his administration to work with the United Nations to dismantle the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, commonly known as UNRWA.
The senators argued that UNRWA has become tied to Hamas influence and should be removed from the United Nations budget entirely.
"We strongly support your administration's efforts to preserve Israel's long-term security and ensure Gaza has a future free of Hamas's terrorist influence," the senators wrote. "The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is one such structure that must be dismantled, not just in Gaza but across the region."
The lawmakers cited findings from both Israeli authorities and the United States Agency for International Development Office of Inspector General (OIG) alleging ties between UNRWA employees and Hamas.
According to the letter, Israel determined that at least 12 UNRWA employees participated in the October 7 Hamas-led terrorist attacks, while the USAID Office of Inspector General identified three additional employees allegedly involved in the attacks and 14 others affiliated with Hamas.
Senators also noted that the OIG investigation is expanding to review more than 100 employees for possible terrorist connections.
"We strongly urge your administration to take decisive action to fully dismantle UNRWA and eliminate it from the UN budget," the senators wrote. "Any aid organization in Gaza or elsewhere must be demonstrably free of ties to terrorism and committed to transparency, accountability, and peace."
The letter comes amid continuing debate over U.S. funding and international support for humanitarian operations in Gaza following the October 7 attacks and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
