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UNRWA Officials Lobby Congress Against Potential Terrorist Designation
UNRWA officials urged congressional staff to oppose a potential Trump administration move to designate the United Nations agency as a foreign terrorist organization during a December 17 briefing, according to details obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital.
The video conference, organized by UNRWA USA, the American nonprofit that supports the agency through advocacy and fundraising, aimed to highlight that UNRWA “is still on the ground” in Gaza and the West Bank. UNRWA USA Executive Director Mara Kronenfeld opened by criticizing what she called “the Netanyahu government’s insidious efforts to systematically prevent UNRWA from continuing its life-saving humanitarian work.”
Bill Deere, UNRWA’s director in Washington, confirmed during the meeting that “press reports appear to be true” regarding the administration considering an FTO designation for the agency.
“This would be unprecedented for a U.N. agency to consider this. It is certainly unwarranted,” Deere told participants, asserting that “four separate independent investigations” dispute Israel’s allegations regarding UNRWA’s workforce. He urged congressional offices to “loudly express your displeasure” at the potential designation.
“If they go ahead and do this, our recourse with regard to this is limited,” Deere warned, adding that one possible remedy would be that “Congress can override the designation.”
The meeting included presentations from UNRWA field leadership describing current operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Sam Rose, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, told participants that international staff were not entering Gaza because of Israeli Knesset legislation, requiring operations to be managed remotely.
Despite these constraints, Rose emphasized that the agency’s services in Gaza haven’t stopped “for a single day,” pointing to continued primary healthcare, education, water and sanitation work, and shelter operations. He specifically highlighted programs that don’t rely on immediate supply deliveries.
“Cash assistance and job creation programs are also able to continue,” Rose said, adding, “we’re able to operate at scale.”
Roland Friedrich, introduced as director of UNRWA affairs in the West Bank, described the agency’s extensive operations in the territory. He detailed how UNRWA provides support to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees through various means, including “cash assistance,” food vouchers, social protection payments, and “cash for rent” assistance for displaced people. Friedrich argued that UNRWA’s presence plays a stabilizing role across multiple countries in the region.
The officials also discussed operational workarounds that allow UNRWA to continue functioning under current restrictions. Rose stated that UNRWA was still receiving fuel and coordinating certain activities through third parties and indirect engagement involving U.N. channels. This fuel enables the operation of power generators and water pumps, which are critical for maintaining basic services.
Regarding aid flows, Rose acknowledged Israel’s reporting of daily truck numbers reaching 600 per day, saying he had no reason to doubt the overall count. However, he noted a shift in the mix of goods entering Gaza, with commercial supplies now playing a larger role while certain humanitarian items remained restricted for U.N. agencies. He described what he called a “two-tier system” where some items blocked from U.N. use could enter through private channels.
The briefing included explicit advocacy aimed at congressional offices. Kronenfeld urged participants to support legislation described as the “UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025” and thanked offices already backing efforts to restore U.S. funding, which had historically made the United States UNRWA’s largest donor before funding was halted in 2024.
When contacted for comment, William Deere from UNRWA’s Washington office stated that such briefings provide “important opportunities for the Agency to respond to the government of Israel’s ongoing disinformation campaign suggesting that UNRWA is no longer actively working in Gaza.” He emphasized that UNRWA staff continue delivering critical services daily in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The potential designation of UNRWA as a terrorist organization would mark an unprecedented move against a United Nations agency and could significantly impact humanitarian operations in the Palestinian territories, where UNRWA has operated for decades as the primary service provider for Palestinian refugees.
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10 Comments
Interesting development regarding UNRWA’s potential terrorist designation. I’m curious to learn more about the agency’s work and the allegations against it. Designating a UN agency as a terrorist organization would be highly unusual.
Yes, it seems like a serious move that could have major implications. I wonder what evidence the administration has to support such a designation, and how UNRWA is defending itself.
This is a complex geopolitical issue with a lot of history and competing narratives. While I understand concerns about terrorism, it’s important to carefully evaluate the facts before making such a consequential decision.
Agreed. Rushing to designate UNRWA as a terrorist organization could further inflame tensions in the region. A measured, evidence-based approach is warranted here.
This seems like another chapter in the long-running geopolitical disputes over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I hope Congress can carefully weigh the evidence and implications before any decisions are made.
Absolutely. This is a highly charged issue with major ramifications. Maintaining UNRWA’s operations may be vital for supporting vulnerable communities, regardless of the political disputes.
I appreciate UNRWA officials taking the time to brief Congress on this matter. Transparent dialogue is important, even on sensitive topics. The agency’s humanitarian work sounds crucial for vulnerable populations.
Yes, it’s good to see UNRWA engaging directly with lawmakers. Maintaining critical aid and services should be the priority, not political designations, if the facts don’t support them.
While I understand concerns about terrorism, designating UNRWA as a terrorist organization seems like an extreme measure that could have far-reaching humanitarian consequences. I hope a balanced approach can be found.
Agreed. The stakes here are high, both in terms of regional stability and the wellbeing of Palestinian refugees. Policymakers should exercise caution and impartiality in evaluating this complex situation.