USAID Inspector General Investigates 1,500 UNRWA Employees for Terror Ties

The USAID Office of the Inspector General is investigating more than 1,500 current or former UNRWA employees for ties to foreign terrorist organizations in Gaza, Fox News reported. The office referred 108 of those individuals to the State Department for suspension or exclusion from working with organizations that receive U.S. funds.

Those referred were found to be involved in the Hamas invasion of southern Israel or were members of terrorist groups. Among them were two deputy school principals, one serving as a Hamas deputy company commander and another as a squad leader. A referred UNRWA teacher had expertise as a sniper for Hamas, while another tracked explosive device assignments.

One school principal was assigned to a Hamas military manufacturing unit. The investigation identified specific Oct. 7 involvement. One referred teacher was ordered to bring two anti-tank missiles to a prescribed location during the attacks.

A deputy school principal was charged with communications during the attacks. The State Department banned UNRWA school principal Hafez Mousa Mohammed Mousa from any future work with U.S. government entities after he coordinated communications with suspected Hamas members while working with the Hamas East Jabaliya Battalion.

A senior U.S. official told Fox News Digital that the USAID OIG investigation "smartly picked up where the U.N. failed" by looking beyond Oct. 7 participation. A State Department spokesperson said it is no surprise that another 100 UNRWA employees were determined to be involved in the Oct.

7 attack and that the U.S. cannot have an institution operating in Gaza that is purportedly delivering aid while allegedly participating in terrorism. The U.N. conducted its own investigation in 2024 through the Office of Internal Oversight Services after claims that 19 UNRWA employees took part in the Oct.