European nations are funding a controversial United Nations group linked to Palestinian terrorism — while shirking their obligations to NATO, records show.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is officially intended to provide relief aid to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
But its well-documented terror ties have turned the 75-year-old organization into a flashpoint, with at least nine members participating in the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in the Jewish state, according to an internal review.
During their operation in Gaza, Israel found Hamas weapons stashed inside an UNRWA clinic, and watchdog groups found that UNRWA “knowingly” let Hamas infiltrate and “indoctrinate” children to “pursue a path of terrorism.”
None of that stopped Spain from pledging in April at least $25 million to the group — even awarding its highest honor, the Order of Isabella the Catholic, to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini,
That same month, Italy announced $5.2 million for UNRWA with another $31 million for Palestinian relief agencies, and Belgium pledged more than $28 million for the group.
And in May, Canada announced a $25 million grant to UNRWA — part of a $65 million award for aid in Gaza, which critics have insisted ends up in the hands of terrorists.
All four nations have lavishly funded UNRWA for years. Between 2017 and 2023 Canada ponied up more than $145 million to UNRWA, Italy provided more than $98 million, Belgium offered more than $88 million and Spain gave more than $85 million, UNRWA’s records show.
Many of UNRWA’s largest NATO backers are among the biggest scofflaws in the alliance, shirking their defense spending obligations, set at 2% of their national gross domestic product.
Spain’s contribution to NATO last year was just 1.28% of its GDP — the worst laggard in the group.
Belgium’s contribution was just 1.3% followed by Canada at 1.37. And Italy’s contribution was just 1.49%
“It is a cruel irony that Europe would rather plant the seeds of its own decline than pay for its own security. UNRWA represents the institutionalization of Jew-hatred, and the Western world has no business subsidizing any of it,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres. (D-NY).
President Trump cut funding to UNRWA in his first term — something President Biden immediately reversed when he took office. Biden later zapped the funding after the emergence of damning intelligence on its ties to Hamas.
Trump signed an Executive Order this week suspending all foreign aid funding for 90 days pending a review — which UNRWA is unlikely to survive.
“For years, America footed over 30% of UNRWA’s budget — money that UNRWA then funneled to terrorist groups like Hamas, which attack America and our allies. Every country should follow President Trump’s lead and stop funding organizations subsidizing terrorist attacks against their own citizens,” said Florida Rep. Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
President Trump has long demanded NATO deadbeats meet their obligations.
Speaking via satellite to the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, he pressed NATO nations to up their contributions to 5%.
With Post Wires
