Full Breakdown
UNRWA Dismisses 70 Gaza Staff After U.S. Watchdog Links Employees to Hamas
6/13/2026, 11:12:21 PM
Core Action: 70 Gaza Employees Terminated
On Friday, UNRWA terminated 70 Gaza-based staff. Acting commissioner-general Christian Saunders said the move was taken “to mitigate safety and security risks for the refugees the Agency serves … and for UNRWA personnel and premises,” and stressed it was not a disciplinary process.
Background & Context
The terminations follow a June USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation that referred over 100 current and former UNRWA employees for suspension or debarment over alleged involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack. UNRWA’s internal oversight had already dismissed 12 staff in January and was reviewing further cases.
Why It Matters
The dismissals risk disrupting UNRWA’s education, health and shelter services for nearly half a million Gaza refugees and increase political pressure in the U.S. and Israel to cut UNRWA funding, even as many donors continue support.
Official Statements & Responses
UNRWA said the dismissals are a security measure, not an admission of guilt, and that Israel has not provided evidence. USAID OIG said its probe linked over 100 staff to Hamas and is referring them for suspension or debarment. A senior U.S. official said the firings appear a direct response to the OIG investigation. The IDF said Hamas has used UNRWA facilities, and Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the UNRWA statement a “cynical cover-up.”
Criticism & Opposition
Israeli officials accuse UNRWA of harboring terrorists and using its facilities as Hamas headquarters. Republican lawmakers, led by Senator Tom Cotton, have urged President Donald Trump to dismantle the agency and cut UN funding.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
UNRWA says Israel has not provided concrete evidence, while the IDF claims many staff are Hamas members. USAID OIG has referred over 100 employees, but the exact number of confirmed Hamas affiliates remains unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The dismissal of the staff is not part of a disciplinary process and does not constitute in any way a validation of the claims made against them,” — UNRWA statement
- “UNRWA's statement on the termination of 70 employees, while blaming the victim, Israel, and without even mentioning the word 'Hamas', is a cynical cover-up,” — Israel Foreign Ministry
- “The timing of UNRWA’s decision to terminate dozens of staff appears as a direct response to the USAID Inspector General‘s active and ongoing investigation, which to date, has linked over 100 UNRWA staff to Hamas,” — Senior U.S. official
- “Because of loose vetting procedures in the UN system, USAID IG law enforcement officers are also working to prevent Hamas-linked staff from jumping to other aid organizations operating in Gaza,” — Senior U.S. official
What’s Next
USAID OIG continues probing up to 1,500 UNRWA employees, while the DOJ and FBI run parallel criminal investigations. UNRWA may take further staffing actions, and congressional debate over its funding is expected to intensify.
