Bipartisan Letter Calls on Blinken to Request Major Overhaul of UN

Antony Blinken should demand the resignation of both UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and United Nations Relief and Works Agency Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini due to allegations that 12 UNRWA employees took part in the Hamas massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, in which some 250 were also taken hostage into Gaza, a dozen congressmen from both parties wrote in a letter to the secretary of state on Wednesday, The Hill has reported.

“We have lost all confidence in Secretary-General António Guterres’ ability to ensure that the UN is not actively supporting terrorism or giving refuge to known terrorists,” the letter stated, adding that the two UN officials “can no longer be entrusted to maintain international peace and security, protect all nations, and uphold international law.”

The representatives also expressed concerns that 10 percent of UNRWA’s 13,000 staff in Gaza have connections to Hamas, a designated terrorist group in the U.S., according to Israeli intelligence.

The Biden administration had paused funding for UNRWA, as have almost a dozen other nations. UNRWA says it is probing the allegations.

While Republicans are unified in opposing UNRWA’s continued operations, some Democrats have urged a resumption in funding to the aid organization as Israel’s war in Gaza against Hamas enters its fifth month.