Columbia Standard

U.S. Senators Tim Scott, Pete Ricketts, and Jim Risch, along with 21 colleagues, have called for a ban on U.S. aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). In a letter addressed to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the senators demanded that any upcoming national security supplemental bill include "an immediate and permanent prohibition" on U.S. aid to UNRWA.

The senators' demand comes in the wake of recent revelations that UNRWA staff were directly involved in the October 7th attack on Israel. Furthermore, a Wall Street Journal report disclosed that approximately 10% of UNRWA's staff have ties to Islamic militant groups.

In their letter, the senators emphasized that the involvement of UNRWA staff members in the attack is not an isolated incident but rather indicative of a systemic issue within the organization. They stated, "Instead, it is emblematic of an organization where no investigation or subsequent corrective measures will ever be enough to cure the rot that is so clearly endemic to its mission."

The senators concluded their letter by urging the United States to permanently cease all contributions to UNRWA. They highlighted several bills introduced by Senate Republicans, including the UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act, that aim to achieve this goal. They requested that any supplemental package providing assistance to Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorists include an immediate and permanent prohibition on U.S. contributions to UNRWA.

A total of 24 senators, including Scott, Ricketts, and Risch, have signed the letter. The signatories include Bill Cassidy, Ted Budd, John Barrasso, Thom Tillis, Mike Crapo, Markwayne Mullin, John Hoeven, Steve Daines, Marco Rubio, Tommy Tuberville, Kevin Cramer, Mitt Romney, Mike Braun, Deb Fischer, John Cornyn, Katie Boyd Britt, Eric Schmitt, John Kennedy, Ron Johnson, Joni Ernst, and Susan Collins.

Senator Scott has been actively addressing this issue in the 118th Congress. He has consistently shown his unwavering support for Israel, particularly in light of the October 7th attack carried out by Hamas.

The senators' demand for a ban on U.S. aid to UNRWA underscores their commitment to ensuring that American taxpayer dollars do not inadvertently support organizations with ties to terrorism. The letter serves as a call to action for both Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell to prioritize the security and interests of the United States and its allies in the Middle East.

It remains to be seen how Senate leadership will respond to this demand, but the senators' collective message is clear: the United States must take decisive action to cut ties with UNRWA and prevent any further support for an organization with alleged links to Hamas.