UNRWA - The Secret Enemy Lurking In The Shadows

Never Love War For The Sake Of War, Love Only That Which Our Warriors Defend

Since my first reading of “The Lord Of The Rings” at age 14, when it was still a fringe work followed by a small group of devotees, I was entranced with the story and the writing. I have always said there are lines in LOTR that Shakespeare would have been jealous of. Tolkien was a master storyteller and a language master. Many of the quotes from his books now live on as some of the greats in the literary world.

One of these quotes, arguably among Tolkien’s top 10, comes from the lips of Faramir in “The Two Towers.” He waxes eloquent during a talk and suddenly comes out with the following quote that would go down in literary history.

War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour us all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend…¹

It is one of those statements where we apply the term “timeless.” It has been and always shall be valid in many circumstances. (Bear in mind Tolkien did a great deal of his writing during World War II, and there is no lack of doctorates and post-doctorates pointing out the imagery Tolkien used LOTR to portray the Nazis and Axis powers against the Allies.)

I have always lived by that rule. Never love war for the sake of war. If anyone reading this has ever been in the middle of a war, they should agree with that statement. Unless you are Patton, he, too, had his place in World War II. As a battlefield medic, I have seen, watched, and been part of things I would not wish on my worst enemy.

The problem, though, is when your enemy is not really marked as an enemy. The problem arises with the art of war when your enemy claims neutrality. The moral dilemma is discerning between friend, neutral, and enemy. Or worse, between enemy and enemy.

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Such is the case with UNRWA. I always thought that stood for “United Nations Relief Work Agency.” Silly me. You see, I thought a relief organization run by the United Nations would encompass every country worldwide. Then I went to their website - https://www.unrwa.org/. And this is what I found in the header:

“United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”

Now I get it. It is only for Palestinians as they prominently display:

WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND PROTECTION FOR REGISTERED PALESTINE REFUGEES

Let us now take a quick peek at Wikipedia to educate ourselves:

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is a UN agency that supports the relief and human development of Palestinian refugees. UNRWA's mandate encompasses Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Palestine War and subsequent conflicts, as well as their descendants, including legally adopted children. As of 2019, more than 5.6 million Palestinians are registered with UNRWA as refugees…

UNRWA employs over 30,000 people, most of them Palestinian refugees, and a small number of international staff. Originally intended to provide employment and direct relief, its mandate has broadened to include providing education, health care, and social services to its target population. UNRWA operates in five areas: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem…

In recent decades, UNRWA has been involved in controversial incidents connected to its role in the Gaza Strip and its relationship with Hamas. The most recent controversy over the alleged involvement of its employees in the October 7 attacks prompted lay-offs, an investigation, and the suspension of funding by several major Western donors, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Let us put this in perspective for a moment and rest our thoughts so we can do some brain osmosis on it. I certainly needed a minute to figure it out.

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A few weeks ago, a cousin from the US started a WhatsApp conversation with me about UNRWA. He wanted me to write a piece about them immediately. It was in the middle of a million things hitting the news all at once (well, that happens every day), and UNRWA was not on the top of the list. Additionally, like an idiot, I told him:

“UNRWA? Israelis could not care less about the UN. We all know it is a corrupt institution run by fools and jackasses. They are powerless to do anything. They sit in that gilded tower in NYC, drink champagne, meet in their $5,000 suits, and do nothing. UNRWA is just an extension of it, and I doubt more than ten people would read such an article.”

How wrong can one be? Boy, did I have to eat my hat this past week!

I began to see around 8 days ago UNRWA being mentioned in the press more and more. To be honest, I did not give it a second thought. My reaction was cynical. “There they go, talking about the United Nations and South Africa in the Hague again. Both are dead in the water.” I purposely desisted writing about the Hague and the trial in a dedicated piece. There would have been too many curse words and foul language if I had done so. And I curse like a proverbial “New York City Cab Driver.” So I resisted. (Besides, the cousin who put me on to UNRWA will send me an email marking every curse word I use in every article, even WTF, telling me to cut it out! And I have a soft spot for this cousin, so I try to be nice.)

But the UNRWA articles kept on coming. I suddenly realized there was something “under the hood,” as it were, and this would explode. That is when I stuffed my hat down my throat and started the research.

So this came through in Haaretz on January 26th.

U.S. Pauses UNRWA Funding Amid Claims 12 Workers Involved in Oct 7 Attack on Israel

UNRWA Commissioner-General said 12 agency workers alleged by Israeli to be involved in the October 7 attacks will be immediately let go, and that an investigation will be launched. UN chief Antonio Guterres, is reportedly 'horrified by this news'

And this on the following day:

Three Countries Join U.S. in Suspending Funds to UNRWA

Australia joins U.S., Canada and Italy in suspending funds to UNRWA

Then the same day as it started to snowball:

Eight Countries Join U.S. in Pausing UNRWA Funding Amid Claims Workers Involved in Oct 7 Attack

The U.S., U.K, Australia, Canada, Italy, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands suspend funding to the UN agency for Palestinians amid claims that 12 employees were involved in Oct 7 attack. Hamas lambastes UNRWA head for investigation 'based on Zionist information'

Then, the Wall Street Journal:

More Countries Halt Aid to U.N. Agency Amid Claims Staff Involved in Israel Attack

And Reuters:

More countries pause funds for UN Palestinian agency

LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Six European countries paused funding for the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) on Saturday, following allegations that some of its staff were involved in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland on Saturday joined the United States, Australia and Canada in pausing funding to the aid agency, a critical source of support for people in Gaza, after the allegations by Israel.

Now let us move on to January 28th, in the Jerusalem Post:

Estonia, Japan join nine other nations in suspending UNRWA funds

UNRWA’s role has long been criticized by Israel which alleges it has supported Hamas for years, an allegation the agency denies.

“Concerning the recent very serious allegations against UNRWA, Estonia will not continue with the funding of the organization,” Estonian Foreign Minister Tsahkna wrote in a post on X on Sunday.Japan’s Foreign Ministry said it was “extremely concerned by the allegations” and that it was suspending any new funding to UNRWA pending completion of an investigation.

Their statements followed suspensions by Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, Finland, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Iceland.At issue is at least $363 million in pledged funds for UNRWA towards its budget of upward of $1.6 billion for the 5.9 million Palestinian refugees it services in Gaza, the West Bank, east Jerusalem, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Aside from basic food supplies, UNRWA also provides education and health care services.

Now, to round this out, just so that there is nothing left to the imagination, here is the official UNRWA answer to these allegations of its employees. (Bold & Italics are mine.)

UNRWA’S LIFESAVING AID MAY END DUE TO FUNDING SUSPENSION

OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA DEPEND ON UNRWA FOR SURVIVAL AS WAR AND DISPLACEMENT CONTINUE  

“Nine countries have as of today temporarily suspended their funding to UNRWA. These decisions threaten our ongoing humanitarian work across the region including and especially in the Gaza Strip.   

“It is shocking to see a suspension of funds to the Agency in reaction to allegations against a small group of staff, especially given the immediate action that UNRWA took by terminating their contracts and asking for a transparent independent investigation. The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the highest investigative authority in the UN system, has already been seized of this very serious matter.   

“UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over 2 million people depending on it for their sheer survival.   Many are hungry as the clock is ticking towards a looming famine. The Agency runs shelters for over 1 million people and provides food and primary healthcare even at the height of the hostilities.  

“In its ruling yesterday, the International Court of Justice ordered that “Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”. These measures are aimed at preventing irreparable damage to the rights of Palestinians. 

“The only way that this can be done is through cooperation with international partners, especially UNRWA as the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza. Some 3,000 core staff out of 13,000 in Gaza continue to report to work, giving their communities a lifeline which can collapse anytime now due to lack of funding.  

“It would be immensely irresponsible to sanction an Agency and an entire community it serves because of allegations of criminal acts against some individuals, especially at a time of war, displacement and political crises in the region.  

“UNRWA shares the list of all its staff with host countries every year, including Israel. The Agency never received any concerns on specific staff members.  

“Meanwhile, an investigation by OIOS into the heinous allegations will establish the facts. Moreover, as I announced on 17 January, an independent review by external experts will help UNRWA strengthen its framework for the strict adherence of all staff to the humanitarian principles.  

“I urge countries who have suspended their funding to re-consider their decisions before UNRWA is forced to suspend its humanitarian response. The lives of people in Gaza depend on this support and so does regional stability". 

Are you, dear reader, getting the picture yet? If not, read on.

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So we know there were allegations that UNRWA workers took part in the 10/7 attacks. We know that some of them kidnapped Israelis, others raped, others murdered, and others stood by in glee and ecstasy. We also can surmise that this was not done by 7 workers. We can understand from the world reaction that this is a widespread affair, where the rot is from the inside. We can also surmise that the as-of-yet “classified” material is a hell of a lot more shocking than one may think, simply because of the list of countries that are not in favor of the war with Gaza and still joined this boycott. In other words, UNRWA is corrupt and stinks like death from the inside out. What did you expect? It has the initials of the UN in its name.

So, UNRWA first wants to be investigated by the UN. They wrote “The United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS)”.

Like that will work! The UN is investigating the UN. Excuse me for my cynicism. That is almost funny.

Then comes the propaganda (I would have used a different term, but cousin Jack will email me about it.)

“UNRWA is the primary humanitarian agency in Gaza, with over 2 million people depending on it for their sheer survival.” Well, darlings, you should have thought of that before your people went on a rampage of blood, rape, murder, and destruction. You really need to think before you decide you want to kill Jews and Israelis and then come crying to the International community for your funds.

But of course. If you are attacked, then attack back and think the ICJ will help you here. Go for it.

Now, this is all Israel’s fault? Let me understand the logic here.

“In its ruling yesterday, the International Court of Justice ordered that “Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”. These measures are aimed at preventing irreparable damage to the rights of Palestinians. 

You let your employees out of the kindergarten to go kidnap, rape, mutilate, and murder, and Israel is to blame? Just like the rumors on social media where those spaghetti-brained college students and professors were claiming Israel killed its citizens as a setup for Hamas. This is your argument. Israel is to blame for your inhumanity? Seriously? That is the best you can do?

So now this is the argument. Hey, a few kids in the playground went a little amok. So what is the big deal? Why are you punishing all of us because we all hate Israel? But whatever? Only a few, or maybe 50, or I grant you a 100, decided to join the fray.

Am I wrong about that guess? That it was just not 7 UNRWA workers going haywire? Is my guess off? Hmm…

Well, let’s go back to the WSJ (January 29)

Intelligence Reveals Details of U.N. Agency Staff’s Links to Oct. 7 Attack

Around 10% of Palestinian aid agency’s 12,000 staff in Gaza have links to militants, according to intelligence dossier.

At least 12 employees of the U.N.’s Palestinian refugee agency had connections to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel and around 10% of all of its Gaza staff have ties to Islamist militant groups, according to intelligence reports reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Six United Nations Relief and Works Agency workers were part of the wave of Palestinian militants who killed 1,200 people in the deadliest assault on Jews since the Holocaust, according to the intelligence dossier. Two helped kidnap Israelis. Two others were tracked to sites where scores of Israeli civilians were shot and killed. Others coordinated logistics for the assault, including procuring weapons.

Of the 12 Unrwa employees with links to the attacks, seven were primary or secondary school teachers, including two math teachers, two Arabic language teachers and one primary school teacher.

Doesn’t that knock your socks off? Teachers, no less. Those in charge of nurturing young minds in the collective knowledge of humanity.

Haaretz just released this within the last 10 minutes (Jan 29, 2023 @ 4 PM)

An intelligence document obtained by the Wall Street Journal estimates that about 10 percent of UNRWA employees in Gaza have ties to Hamas or Islamic Jihad, and half of them have relatives that belong to the organizations.

A source in the U.S. administration told the newspaper that the information in the report is based on sensitive signals intelligence, as well as surveillance of mobile phones, investigations of captured Hamas terrorists, documents found on terrorists who were killed, and more. According to the source, Israel shared this information with the U.S. government, after which funds were suspended to UNRWA by the U.S. and other countries.

I bet you that number reaches way over 100 when all this is over.

BUT BUT BUT BUT… UNRWA is a humanitarian organization - you cannot do this to us!

Does anyone else see the hypocrisy here? UNRWA is a humanitarian organization where their employees go out to kidnap, rape, mutilate, murder, and get their jollies off by attacking Israelis and Jews, and citizens from all over the world.

In what universe do we call that humanitarian?

Starving innocent people is not the answer. I totally agree with that statement. Keeping hostages is not the answer either, and UNRWA knows, along with IRC, exactly where those hostages are. So we cannot let innocent people starve. We cannot trust UNRWA or the IRC. Do you follow the logic here? There absolutely must be another, newer, more relevant, and honest government or organization to do this work. If this does not happen, if things go back to normal, if all this is considered an anomaly in the end, this war will get worse, and more innocents on both sides will die due to the stupidity of the UN and governments.

My bets are on stupidity. I hope I am proven wrong.

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I do not love war for the sake of war. I do not take any joy in the death of others. I do not want my children to learn to kill over and over again. Yet this must be even against the unseen enemy who hides behind neutrality. I will use the sword, the spear, the arrow, and the warrior - to defend myself and my country against a destroyer who would devour us all. Even when that destroyer hides behind the shield of neutrality while they bathe in the blood of my people, friends, and family.

Mark my words. I will prophesize for you here. The International Red Cross (IRC) is next. If UNRWA smells terrible, wait until they pull apart the IRC!

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This post is for Cousin Jack, and he knows why.

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1. Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, Book 2, “Chapter V: The Window on the West,” p. 678-9.