Overview
- Senior officials have discussed terrorism-linked penalties up to a potential Foreign Terrorist Organization designation, though no decision has been made.
- Deliberations include whether to target the entire agency or only specific officials or parts of its operations.
- Political appointees are driving the push while career State Department lawyers and diplomats raise legal and humanitarian objections.
- UNRWA rejects the allegations and cites multiple reviews, including by the U.S. National Intelligence Council, that describe it as a neutral and indispensable humanitarian actor.
- Any broad action could disrupt refugee assistance and complicate ties with donor allies, as U.N. leaders call UNRWA the backbone of Gaza aid and the General Assembly this week urged cooperation with the agency.