Utah Valley Times

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) has joined a group of Republican colleagues in demanding a ban on U.S. aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Led by Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Jim Risch (R-ID), the senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), urging the inclusion of an "immediate and permanent prohibition" of U.S. aid to UNRWA in the national security supplemental bill.

This demand comes in light of recent allegations that 12 UNRWA staff members were directly involved in the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Furthermore, the Wall Street Journal has reported that approximately 10% of UNRWA staff in Gaza have ties to Islamist militant groups. In response to these revelations, the senators wrote, "Let us be crystal clear: last week’s revelation that UNRWA staff members played a part in the October 7 attacks is not an example of a few bad apples acting out of turn. Instead, it is emblematic of an organization where no investigation or subsequent corrective measures will ever be enough to cure the rot that is so clearly endemic to its mission."

The senators emphasize the necessity of permanently halting all contributions to UNRWA, expressing their support for several bills introduced by Senate Republicans, including the UNRWA Accountability and Transparency Act, which aim to achieve this goal. They request that any supplemental package being considered for necessary assistance to Israel in its fight against Hamas terrorists include an immediate and permanent prohibition against U.S. contributions to UNRWA.

In addition to Senator Romney, the letter was signed by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Barrasso (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), John Hoeven (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Braun (R-IN), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), John Kennedy (R-LA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Susan Collins (R-ME).

The senators' unified stance reflects their concerns about the UNRWA's involvement in terrorist activities and their determination to hold the organization accountable. The full text of the letter can be found [here](link to the letter).

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