House Republicans gearing up for United Nations probe

News

By Jon Levine

The House Foreign Affairs Committee expects to launch an investigation into the United Nations, three members of the committee told The Post.

The committee plans to zero in on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees in the Near East, known as UNRWA.

The organization has come under fire for allegedly supporting terrorism after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack against Israel.

“There is extensive evidence of a troubling connection between UNRWA and Hamas, and it is far deeper than was known,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calf.), a senior member of the committee. “Congress must now investigate and uncover the extent of what UNRWA knew, what it did, and what it may be hiding from the world.”

UNRWA, officially dedicated to humanitarian aid, has long faced criticism for allegedly providing support to terrorists.

And those voices have only grown louder after Hamas’ deadly massacre.

In November, an Israeli hostage released by Hamas during a temporary pause in the fighting said they were kept for 50 days in the attic of a UNRWA teacher, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Hamas terror tunnels have been repeatedly found in and around UNRWA schools.

In 2018 former President Trump cut off aid to UNRWA, with his State Department blasting the organization as an “irredeemably flawed operation.”

President Biden restored funding in April 2021. In June, the United States ponied up more than $153 million to UNRWA, the organization announced in a gushing press statement.

The United States has provided at least $730 million since Biden took office.

Any congressional probe would go through the body’s oversight subcommittee, which is chaired by Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.).

“He is also supportive of a probe, to put it mildly,” a Mast spokesman said, adding the congressman hopes to haul UNRWA ‘s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini in to answer questions — though as a Swiss citizen, the US cannot compel his testimony.

While the House doesn’t have jurisdiction over the United Nations, it does over the Department of State — which oversees the US relationship with UNRWA.

One committee insider said they would be prepared to hold up funding next year if there was any whiff of noncompliance.

“The rot is systemic … and the State Department knows this,” said Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, who said he would be eager to cooperate with the probe.