US lawmakers demand resignations of UN secretary general & UNRWA chief

[Social Media]

 

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to demand the resignations of top United Nations officials following allegations of staff involvement in a Hamas attack on Israel. The call for resignations targets UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.

 

In a letter addressed to Blinken, the lawmakers expressed concerns over reports indicating that 12 UN employees participated in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7th. Additionally, Israeli intelligence assessments suggested that around 10% of UNRWA's staff in Gaza have ties to Hamas, a designated terrorist group in the US.

 

The letter, signed by twelve House members from both Democratic and Republican parties, highlighted a loss of confidence in Guterres' ability to ensure the UN is not supporting terrorism or harboring known terrorists. The lawmakers emphasized that individuals in such positions cannot be entrusted with maintaining international peace, security, and upholding international law.

 

The signatories of the letter include representatives such as Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), Don Davis (D-N.C.), Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Max Miller (R-Ohio), Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), Haley Stevens (D-Mich.), Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.), and Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.).

 

The attack carried out by Hamas on October 7th resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in southern Israel, with civilians comprising the majority of the victims. More than 240 people were taken hostage, and over 100 remain in captivity. Reports have detailed brutal atrocities, including rapes and the killings of defenseless women and children.

 

Following the allegations, the Biden administration suspended funding for UNRWA pending an investigation into the matter. Several other countries have also halted funding for the agency, raising concerns about its operational continuity, particularly in providing aid to Palestinian refugee populations across different regions.

 

While some members of Congress, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, have criticized the pause in US funding for UNRWA, arguing it could exacerbate a humanitarian crisis, others have expressed support for the suspension, citing concerns about the agency's neutrality and its potential links to Hamas.

 

UNRWA has faced longstanding criticism, particularly from Israel's supporters, who accuse the agency of operating under the influence of Hamas in Gaza. Despite asserting a policy of neutrality, UNRWA has acknowledged the challenges posed by Hamas's rule in Gaza. The United Nations has initiated an independent review to assess the agency's adherence to neutrality policies and its mechanisms for addressing policy violations.

 

While Republicans generally oppose the continuation of UNRWA's operations, some Democrats advocate for resuming funding to address immediate humanitarian needs in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

 

09.02.24

Source

 

[thaibeachlovers]

LOL. Of course they do and to be replaced with a US glove puppet.

Must have been a shock to them that António Guterres grew a pair and went against the US line.

[Morch]

37 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

LOL. Of course they do and to be replaced with a US glove puppet.

Must have been a shock to them that António Guterres grew a pair and went against the US line.

 

@thaibeachlovers

 

Anything to support either comment?

[Bkk Brian]

Full transcript here on this lengthy twitter post with links to all the evidence.

 

The Case Against UNRWA Testimony by UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer before the United States Congress, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Joint Hearing of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability and the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, January 30, 2024

https://twitter.com/HillelNeuer/status/1752551955891720524