The US and several other Western countries cut funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) after Israel claimed that several members of the organization participated in the Hamas attack on October 7. The US intelligence community has “low confidence” in the veracity of the Israeli assertions. The Washington Post reports having evidence of a single UNRWA member in Israel.
In January, Tel Aviv began circulating the claim that 12 members of UNRWA attacked Israel on October 7 and that scores of other members have ties to Hamas. The release of the claims was timed with the International Court of Justice ruling that Israel was plausibly committing genocide in Gaza.
Earlier this month, Tel Aviv released a summary of its intelligence for the assertions to several news outlets. After reviewing the Israeli dossier, multiple outlets reported that Israel had provided no evidence to back the claims that members of UNRWA are aligned with Hamas.
Still, Washington and several other top donors to UNRWA backed Tel Aviv’s allegations and cut funding to the agency. Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the claims as “highly, highly credible.”
UNRWA is the most crucial aid organization to deliver aid to Gaza and prevent the famine from getting worse. In Gaza, one in six children is on the verge of starvation.
The government in Tel Aviv maintains significant power and oversight over UNRWA. The organization provides Israel with a list of all employees annually, and Tel Aviv can demand that UNRWA sever ties with any of its staff.
On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that a US intelligence assessment concluded it had “low confidence” in the Israeli claims. The intel assessment did not dispute all the Israeli claims, “but it provides a more measured appraisal of Israel’s assertions than public statements by US and Israeli officials,” according to the Journal.
Last week, the Washington Post reported obtaining a video that showed one UNRWA social worker in southern Israel on October 7 and who was seen loading the body of an Israeli into a vehicle. The Post reports matching photos from social media of the UNRWA staff member and his vehicle to CCTV footage from southern Israel.
While Washington often accepts all Israeli claims of crimes committed by Palestinians, the White House ignores even well-documented reports of Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Recently, the UN found several credible reports of Israeli forces committing rampant executions and sexual abuse of Palestinian women and girls. The Biden administration has claimed that it must support Israel because of the alleged sexual crimes of Hamas but will not curb weapons shipments to Tel Aviv when Israeli forces are reported committing similar offenses.
Kyle Anzalone is the opinion editor of Antiwar.com, news editor of the Libertarian Institute, and co-host of Conflicts of Interest.
Where’s the aid?
Good question. If I say that I have “low confidence” it would be reinstated–that would be me optimistic. We didn’t, don’t, and never care about genociding other people. …Wait. …I regret saying that about the morality of my country. I probably should have said: never ever.
Wow, the mention of ‘low confidence’ was a dozen paragraphs down from the headline saying, ‘it was credible’. Since most people just scan headlines, the lie continues.
Agreed and several weeks had passed since they shoved that lie down our throats. Good to see you again Chris. How many years has it been since you last posted here?
Hasn’t been that long. Not a regular but he does comment on occasion. And his comments are usually spot on.
Everything Israel spews is a LIE, the US, UK, EU, etc., all know Israel is a Terrorist Regime and yet allow themselves to be lead by the nose. What a DISGUSTING group of Leaders, of supposed Democracies, allowing themselves to murder, starve human beings in the name of Zionist THUGS.
U.S.S. Liberty. Go to Scheerpost, look up “Former US Navy Pilot: The Day Israel Attacked the USA. F&cking Johnson had our jets called back, did not want to “embarrass” an “ally”. Oh heck, here it is: https://scheerpost.com/2024/02/12/the-day-israel-attacked-the-usa/
I have a feeling he already knew.
Indeed.
Israeli government and its Mossad-controlled influence “lobbies” = big fat liars.
Another words, We know Israel lies, cheats & steals just like cia… but we do not condemn the claim…!
The damage is done. Remember the Chinese “Spy” Balloon? My neighbors already took this lie into a safe place in their brain until they die. It’s amazing. We say our nation has attention deficit. But, we really only pay attention to believing every lie the Neocons/Neolibs/ Israelis tell us. Our skill in cataloging and accepting every one of those lies is uncanny. Even if we develop dementia, we never ever let go of those lies. Case in point: Biden.
my neighbors saw the same balloon that your neighbors saw.
maybe you and i have the same neighbors.
oh shit even my own family saw that spy balloon as it sailed by.
damnit i watched all 7 of the world trade center buildings (total 7) turn into powder in a single day.
what.
LOLOL. I missed you, Spy!
“By deception we do war”
“Israel had provided no evidence …”
“Antony Blinken described the claims as “highly, highly credible.””
“US intelligence assessment concluded it had “low confidence” in the Israeli claims.”
Rhetorical Q: do Blinken and Biden have any shame at all?
Another rhetorical question: have you ever watched a documentary on a serial killing psychopath who felt shame?
Like Pinochio’s nose the litany of Israeli atrocity porn keeps growing. And when it’s over no doubt someone will discover beautiful little Liel Hetzroni’ diary, there’ll be a hang dog ‘eliewiesel’ writing NYT Best Sellers, doing the campus lecture and TV circuit with another variation on Job, a horde of Hollowood speilbergian masterpieces featuring unshaved Hamas jackals and humble cleanly kibbutzim getting raped and killed, … and we’ll all feel inspired to build an “Oct. 7th Memorial Museum” to honor The Pitiful Victims and ensure we never forget.
U.S.and allies have “low confidence” and still continue with the defunding of UNRWA.
Of course Israel lied. The do that constantly in all matters relating to the Paletinians. They need to do that, because they certainly can’t admit the truth of their war crimes and genocidal intent.