More than 20 states are urging congressional leaders to defund a United Nations aid agency due to its connections to Hamas and growing antisemitism on college campuses in the United States.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson led 22 states in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asking them to halt funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in response to its ties to Hamas.
The agency has faced criticism for its links to Hamas since attacks against Israel last year, prompting the U.S. and other countries to suspend funding in January. Congress has also approved a ban on funding to UNRWA until March 2025.
Despite these actions, state attorneys general are calling for more action in light of pro-Palestinian protests at universities such as Columbia, UCLA, Northwestern, George Washington, and others. House Republicans have initiated a crackdown on antisemitism, which includes holding hearings and investigations into protesters.
The attorneys general stated that UNRWA textbooks contain antisemitic content and staff violate the principle of neutrality. They emphasized that American tax dollars should not support organizations promoting hate.
Attorneys general from 22 states signed the letter, expressing their concern and calling for permanent defunding of UNRWA. McConnell has voiced his opposition to funding UNRWA due to its ties to terrorism.
Bird emphasized the need to completely stop funding UNRWA, citing its support for terrorists and promotion of antisemitism. She also noted the importance of upholding First Amendment rights while ensuring protests do not turn destructive.
The Truth Voices contacted UNWRA, Johnson, Jeffries, and Schumer for comments on the matter.
