In a controversial assertion, Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has accused Hamas of diverting U.S. humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
Senator Tom Cotton claimed that Hamas misappropriated approximately one billion dollars over the past year, with implications of U.N.'s UNRWA involvement, Fox News reported.
These allegations surfaced prominently after Hamas executed an American-Israeli, intensifying scrutiny over aid management in conflict zones. Sen. Cotton accused UNRWA, the main U.N. agency operating in Gaza, of having terrorist affiliations.
The senator's concerns escalated after Hamas invaded Israel in October 2023, which led to increased American aid efforts to address the resulting humanitarian crisis.
In reaction to the allegations, the Biden-Harris administration faced criticism for its handling of the situation, with Sen. Cotton suggesting their approach might be prolonging the conflict.
The U.S. government took swift action with the State Department ceasing funding to UNRWA in January after potential terrorist affiliations became evident. This move repositioned U.S aid strategies in the region amid rising tensions.
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced measures to reclaim funds previously allocated to UNRWA and has, in addition, put a freeze on any future aid until at least 2025, reflecting growing legislative caution concerning the flow of aid in Gaza.
Furthermore, in March, the U.S. Congress barred any funding towards UNRWA, with additional legislative backing from Israeli lawmakers, who subsequently proposed labeling the organization a terrorist entity.
Countering the allegations, UNRWA's Washington Office Director, William Deere, firmly contested the accusations, questioning the factual accuracy of Sen. Cotton's claims. Moreover, UNRWA lamented the lack of direct contact from Senator Cotton's office prior to the public disclosure of these criticisms.
In addition, USAID, in its stance overviews, clarified its operational focus by emphasizing that it no longer funds UNRWA and by detailing the risk mitigation strategies implemented to safeguard aid delivery.
In an intense rebuttal to being labeled as facilitators of terrorism, UNRWA emphasized that the Israeli government had not filed any direct complaints about their staffing since 2011. Furthermore, U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield, Special Envoy for Middle Eastern Humanitarian Affairs, underscored this by noting the lack of Israeli-provided evidence of aid diversion by Hamas.
William Deere expressed:
"We wish the Senator's office would have reached out to us as the letter contains numerous errors, the sum of which renders it largely a series of mismatched facts and unsubstantiated allegations."
The dispute has extended into Israeli plans, reported in October 2024, to seize land from UNRWA's Jerusalem headquarters for new housing developments.
Despite proactive shifts in U.S. policy, tensions still persist regarding the integrity of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Moreover, claims and counterclaims continue to paint a complex picture of aid, politics, and conflict in the Middle East.
From allegations of diverted U.S. aid intended for humanitarian purposes in Gaza to legislative retorts and operational overhauls, the path forward remains cluttered with diplomatic hurdles and the significant challenge of ensuring that aid reaches those truly in need.
