Dem Senator Wants To Restore Funding To UN Agency That Employed Literal Terrorists

Democratic Vermont Sen. Peter Welch reintroduced a bill Friday to restore congressional funding to the United Nations’ agency that employed terrorists who participated in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Welch’s bill would restore U.S. contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), citing the agency’s role as the largest aid provider in Gaza. The United States has not contributed to UNRWA since the Biden administration paused funding to the agency in January 2024 following Israel’s accusation that at least 12 agency employees participated in Hamas’ attack.

UNRWA fired nine employees in August 2024 after finding they participated in the October 7th attacks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said UNRWA staff with ties to Hamas “must be held accountable.”

Welch’s bill faces steep hurdles to becoming law given widespread opposition from President Donald Trump, Senate Republicans and some Democratic lawmakers to funding UNWRA over the agency’s ties to Hamas.

Trump signed an executive order barring funding for UNRWA on Feb. 3. The president also cut off