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In response to accusations that staffers of a United Nations agency have been allegedly concerned in the October 7 terror assaults in Israel, Texas Republican Rep. Michael McCaul reminded Americans that former President Donald Trump cut funding to the UN throughout his administration.
“The United Nations Relief Agency, the previous Trump administration, cut all funding for a reason, just for this reason. The idea that UNRWA was actually supplying, you know, harboring weapons to assist with Hamas’s invasion of Israel,” McCaul informed Fox News’ Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday.”
“Now, those are the allegations that have come out of Israel, we’re investigating, but if true, think how outrageous that is,” he continued.
As of Saturday, the U.S., United Kingdom and different key Western powers cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which is meant to present reduction and humanitarian providers to refugees in Palestine, following accusations that 12 staffers with the group have been “involved” in the October attack on Israel.
The Trump marketing campaign mentioned NBC News reporter Vaughn Hillyard was not banned or barred primarily based on his reporting. ((Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service through Getty Images))
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has since praised the U.S. resolution as “an important step in holding UNRWA accountable.”
The State Department beneath Trump cut ties with UNRWA in 2018, however President Biden resumed offering funds to the group shortly after taking workplace. He continued to improve spending to the group, with funds exceeding $1 billion, Fox News Digital beforehand reported.
Trump mentioned in 2018 that he pulled funding to the group after peace talks stalled.
“I stopped massive amounts of money that we were paying to the Palestinians and the Palestinian leaders. We were — the United States was paying them tremendous amounts of money,” Trump mentioned on the time. “And I’d say, you’ll get money, but we’re not paying you until we make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, we’re not paying.”
The Secretary-General of the UN, António Guterres, mentioned an investigation was instantly launched following the accusations, main to the termination of 9 workers.
“Of the 12 people implicated, nine were immediately identified and terminated by the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini; one is confirmed dead, and the identity of the two others is being clarified,” Guterres mentioned.
Rep. Michael McCaul joins “Fox News Sunday”on Jan. 28, 2024. (FOX NEWS )
“Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. The Secretariat is ready to cooperate with a competent authority able to prosecute the individuals in line with the Secretariat’s normal procedures for such cooperation.”
He known as on the nations that ended their funding to the group to resume their assist, arguing that “tens of thousands of men and women who work for UNRWA, many in some of the most dangerous situations for humanitarian workers,” and so they “should not be penalized.”
The remark sparked outrage from Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, who argued that nations that proceed funding the UNWRA “before a comprehensive investigation of the organization should know that its money might be used for terrorism.”
António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, speaks throughout a press convention on the United Nations Visitors Plaza on April 19, 2022 in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
“The UN Secretary-General has proven once again that the security of the citizens of Israel is not really important for him. After years in which he ignored the evidence presented to him personally about UNRWA’s support and involvement in incitement and terrorism, and before he conducted a comprehensive investigation to locate all Hamas terrorists in UNRWA, he called to fund an organization that is deeply contaminated with terrorism,” Erdan mentioned.
Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, background, listens, throughout a press briefing along with US congressmen Michael McCaul, foreground and Gregory Meeks, in Stockholm, Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. (Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency through AP) (Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency through AP)
McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, lately requested the United Nations Relief and Works Agency commissioner-general seem earlier than the committee on the matter, with the Texas lawmaker saying Sunday, “we’re gonna get some answers.”
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“And we do have reporting that UNRWA is using money to give aide to Hamas. And that’s why I’ve advocated to cut that funding. The administration – finally, after they allowed it – put a pause on it just a couple of days ago. And they’re gonna testify before my committee, and we’re gonna get some answers,” he mentioned.
Fox News Digital’s Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.
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