US House Bill Targets UNRWA Over Alleged Hamas Ties

The proposed 'Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act,' introduced by Reps. Mike Lawler and Josh Gottheimer, mandates that the State Department transition aid services to other organizations. Supporters of the bill cite long-standing allegations that UNRWA has been compromised by Hamas, pointing to claims that some employees participated in the October 7, 2023, attacks. While a UN investigation found potential involvement in nine cases—leading to the termination of those individuals—independent reviews have consistently failed to substantiate broader claims that the agency serves as a militant front.

For millions of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, the agency remains a lifeline, providing 10.5 million primary-care visits and essential food assistance annually. Matt Duss of the Center for International Policy warned that the move would act as a 'death sentence' for those dependent on these services. Others point to the 2025 collapse of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as a grim precedent; when that group replaced UNRWA, aid distribution became centralized under military control, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths during food queues. With the U.S. having already withheld significant funding, the agency now faces an existential crisis that could leave the most vulnerable without any support structure.