An alarming pivot has been taken by the Biden administration, wavering away from the stance of the Department of Justice under President Trump. At the heart of the matter lies a significant $1 billion lawsuit. The suit was instigated by the estate of Tamar Kedem Siman Tov, a victim of a horrifying Hamas terror attack that claimed the lives of her entire family in Israel’s Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. The focus of this lawsuit is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), an organization which has ostensibly been used by Hamas for heinous purposes.
This extensive, 167-page lawsuit points a finger directly at Hamas, alleging its misuse of UNRWA facilities to serve as arms depots. Furthermore, the document reveals shocking insights into how the organization has enabled the construction of subterranean tunnels and command centers underneath its sites. Still, in wading through the hypocrisy of the entire scenario, it’s appalling how Biden’s administration initially decided to shield the UNRWA under claims of it enjoying immunity from prosecution in America as a UN organ.
The continuous washing of hands from responsibility when it comes to Biden administration couldn’t be more evident. It is disturbing to see them trying to toss away the arguments brought up by the prior administration that the UNRWA doesn’t share the same stature as other UN organs. Nevertheless, the Southern District’s current U.S. attorney dismissed Biden’s perspective in a persuasive 10-page letter.
Despite the voices of reason attempting to elucidate the nuances of this issue, the United Nations stubbornly insists that UNRWA is an integral part of its system and, thus, is immune from American prosecution. The UN has announced that it will persist in defending its set position before the court. The obstinacy raises more eyebrows and adds more insult to injury.
Since its establishment in 1950, UNRWA has stood as a continuous irritant to Israel, chiefly due to its controversial education system. Israeli officials argue that this system not only inculcates hatred but also encourages dreams of eradicating the symbolic core of the Jewish state by overcrowding it with the descendants of Arab refugees. The only surprising element here is the audacious indifference displayed by certain individuals against such a claim.
Ever since the October 7 massacre, more and more incriminating evidence against Hamas has surfaced. It has become more apparent that UNRWA facilities were shamefully put to use for planning attacks, providing refuge for terrorists, and fostering violent ambitions. Unfortunately, too few have raised their voices against this clear-cut misuse of UNRWA’s resources.
Officials rightfully claim UNRWA’s complicity and silence in the murders of Israelis, which underlines why this organization should be liable to lawsuits within the United States. It is patently clear that UNRWA has gravely failed in its humanitarian objective and has morphed into a frightening shield for terror. And yet, some choose to ignore such glaring breaches.
Following the shocking evidence in the form of video clips that revealed active involvement of UNRWA employees in the October 7 massacre, the United States withdrew its funding from the agency. Encouragingly, a number of other countries followed suit. However, one can’t help but wonder the basis on which Biden’s administration initially considered granting immunity to such an organization.
The Department of Justice’s new filing offers a sobering perspective – not all UN organizations necessarily share the UN’s immunity. It remains to be seen how the Biden administration responds to these revelations. Allegedly, UNRWA acts independently from the UN General Assembly and its staff don’t comply with certain restrictions, moreover, most of the agency’s funding doesn’t emanate from the UN budget.
Despite these discrepancies, the United Nations remains unfazed, emphatically stating that UNRWA, as a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly, deserves immunity under the 1946 Convention on the Immunities and Privileges of the United Nations. They intend to continue defending their position via legal counsel and contemplate any necessary further action.
Formed in 1950, UNRWA’s primary mandate was to aid Arabs displaced during Israel’s war of independence. Notably, it operates distinctively from the UN High Commission for Refugees, which was established to assist displaced individuals globally. An array of camps established by the UNRWA has acted as breeding grounds for terror, highlighting the destructive side effects of the organization’s activities.
Instead of a solution-focused approach expected from a refugee agency, the UNRWA adopts a stagnant stance, insisting on resettlement of Palestinian refugees only after the conclusion of the Israeli-Arab feud. A stark contrast to the UN High Commission for Refugees, UNRWA continues to wrongly classify descendants of displaced Arabs from 1948 as permanent refugees.
From its birth, UNRWA had to manage the needs of 750,000 refugees. Today, it stands responsible for approximately 6 million individuals. It is a heavy burden indeed, and one that blithely falls into the wrong hands under the negligent watch of administrations that choose to turn a blind eye.