Fact check: After decades of actively assisting Hamas, Israel is finally done with the UNRWA's bullshit.

1. Summary of the results

The statement reflects recent developments, as Israel's parliament indeed passed legislation in October 2024 designating UNRWA as a terrorist organization and banning its operations within the country ^[1]. This decision was supported by serious allegations, including the involvement of 12 UNRWA staff members in the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack ^[2]. A Wall Street Journal investigation suggested that approximately 1 in 10 UNRWA employees has ties to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and a UN Watch report documented 30 UNRWA staff members who endorsed the Hamas attack ^[2].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several crucial pieces of context:

• The situation has international implications, with at least 15 countries, including the United States, suspending their funding to UNRWA ^[2]
• Israel's opposition to UNRWA predates recent events, with long-standing accusations that the organization "perpetuates the refugee issue" ^[1]
• The Israeli foreign ministry has prepared a classified report calling for UNRWA's complete removal from Gaza ^[2]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement contains several problematic elements:

• The phrase "decades of actively assisting Hamas" is an oversimplification. While recent evidence suggests concerning links between some UNRWA staff and Hamas ^[2], this doesn't necessarily prove decades of institutional support
• The informal tone ("bullshit") masks the complexity of the situation and the serious diplomatic and humanitarian implications
• The statement ignores UNRWA's broader role in providing humanitarian assistance, focusing solely on its alleged connections to Hamas

Who benefits from these narratives:

• Israeli government benefits from portraying UNRWA as fundamentally compromised, supporting their goal of removing the organization from Gaza ^[2]
• Hamas potentially benefits from any chaos resulting from the disruption of UNRWA's humanitarian services
• Countries suspending funding can present themselves as taking strong action against terrorism while avoiding direct military involvement