Overview

• Sen. Marsha Blackburn has demanded an investigation into allegations that a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employee held an Israeli hostage during recent fighting in the Gaza Strip.
• The allegations were made by Israeli Channel 13 reporter Almog Boker, who claimed that the hostage was held captive for almost 50 days by a UNRWA teacher.
• Blackburn has given US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield and UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini until Dec. 18 to respond to the claims.
• The UNRWA has called Boker’s claim “unsubstantiated” after the reporter failed to respond to the agency’s requests for more information.
• If the allegations are true, Blackburn has stated that the US must “immediately defund this terrorist-sympathizing organization,” and that not one more US taxpayer dollar should go towards funding UNRWA.