Trump Amplifies Scrutiny of UN Agency Amid Allegations of Hamas Ties and Reform Overstatements

Former President Donald Trump has amplified a U.S. government investigation into more than 100 current or former UNRWA employees suspected of having ties to Hamas. This comes as a new watchdog report alleges that the United Nations agency has overstated its progress in implementing reforms. Trump shared the report on his social media platform, Truth Social, in August, bringing renewed attention to the controversy surrounding the UN agency.

The report released by UN Watch challenges UNRWA's assertion that it has completed 41 out of 50 reforms recommended by an independent review led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. According to UN Watch, upon comparing UNRWA's claims with Colonna's recommendations, only about 13 of the 50 reforms appear to have been fully implemented as prescribed. The group contends that UNRWA has counted the drafting of policies, the initiation of pilot programs, or the creation of plans as completed reforms, even when full implementation has not occurred.

"UNRWA is grading its own homework—and giving itself credit for reforms that exist mainly on paper," said UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer. "A policy is not a reform if it is ignored, unenforced or blocked by staff unions dominated by Hamas."

UN Watch cited staff vetting and education as areas where UNRWA's reform claims are questionable. While UNRWA lists a "Commercial Vetting Pilot & Costed Plan" and other screening measures as completed, UN Watch argues that a pilot and an implementation plan do not constitute a fully operational external vetting system. Regarding education, UNRWA claims systematic textbook reviews and randomized classroom inspections are complete, but a policy to prohibit problematic educational content is still marked as "in progress."

Colonna's review, presented in April 2024, noted that some educational content remained problematic, citing "glorification of jihad," incitement to violence, and maps that excluded Israel. She called for a zero-tolerance approach.

When pressed about independent verification of UNRWA's reforms, UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric defended the agency's process during a briefing. "It is not just checking boxes for the sake of checking boxes," Dujarric stated. "It’s about the implementation of those things."

Dujarric added that UNRWA regularly reports to the General Assembly, conducts integrity meetings open to member states, and offers opportunities for governments to review the agency's activities. He also noted that UNRWA relies on member states in the regions where it operates to assist with staff screening and shares staff lists with Israeli, Jordanian, Lebanese, and Syrian authorities. "If there are concerns, they need to be shared directly with UNRWA. When they are, they take action," he said.

The Colonna review was commissioned in February 2024 following allegations that UNRWA employees participated in the Oct. 7 attacks. UN Secretary-General António Guterres accepted all 50 recommendations in April 2024 and agreed with UNRWA leadership to create an action plan for their implementation.

Neuer dismissed the notion that the dispute is merely semantic. "This is not a semantic disagreement over the meaning of ‘completed,’" he said. "UNRWA says the job is done, yet teachers tied to terrorist organizations remain in classrooms, Hamas-dominated unions obstruct discipline, and children continue to be exposed to incitement. Those are real-world consequences, not technicalities."