UN Watch is calling for the criminal prosecution of senior UNRWA officials who knowingly provide material support for terrorists.
To that end, UN Watch has collected detailed evidence of UNRWA complicity with terrorism, which is now supporting legal action worldwide to hold UNRWA, its officials, and its financial supporters, to account. Victims of Hamas terrorism are demanding justice and accountability from UNRWA.
Below are (1) a list of the reports compiled by UN Watch documenting UNRWA support for terrorism, followed by summaries of the known legal proceedings that have been commenced since October 7th against UNRWA and its officials, and against the funding of UNRWA.
1. UNRWA Promotion of Terrorism: Key Documents From UN Watch
The Dossier on UNRWA Complicity With Terrorism | Summary of the UN Watch evidence as of April 2024
• en français: Rapport sur les liens profonds de l’UNRWA avec le Hamas
• auf deutsch: Das Dossier, das die Verbindungen des UNRWA zum Terrorismus beweist
Rigged: Why The Colonna “Independent Review” Was An Orchestrated Whitewash
• en français: L’évaluation « indépendante » truquée de l’UNRWA | Rapport sur l’enquête Colonna relative aux liens terroristes de l’UNRWA
• auf deutsch: Entlarvt: „Unabhängiger“ UNRWA-Bericht manipuliert | Ermittlungen zum Colonna-Bericht über UNRWA-Terrorverbindungen
Individual Reports:
Exposed: UNRWA’s Rigged “Independent” Review
April 2024
Report: UNRWA’s Terrorgram
January 2024
Report: U.N. Teachers Celebrated Hamas Massacre
November 2023
Report: UNRWA’s Teachers of Hate
June 2022
Report: UN Teachers Celebrate Deaths of Israelis
August 2021
2. Legal Actions Worldwide Against UNRWA For Complicity With Terrorism
Canada
⚖️ Application Against Government of Canada: Mizrachi et al v. Attorney General of Canada, Case No. T-722-24 (Federal Court)
April 4, 2024
Court Application filed in Federal Court seeking judicial review of the Canadian government’s decision to renew funding the the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) brought by Canadian citizens who lost family members in the October 7th Hamas attack. The application argues that the renewal of funding violates Canadian law on multiple grounds, including UNRWA’s documented ties to Hamas, a terrorist organization under Canadian law. Filed by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) (Press Release). Op-ed in National Post.
The complaint extensively cited UN Watch material, including the following:
- UNRWA Education: Reform or Regression? A Review of UNRWA Teachers and Schools Concerning Incitement to Hate and Violence
- Abu Yaseen Glorifies Terrorism for Children
- Nihaya Awad, Computer Teacher at UNRWA West Bank, Praises Hamas
- Hana’a Daoud, UNRWA Teacher in Jordan, Advocates Killing Jews
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United States
⚖️ Lawsuit Against UNRWA and seven of its current and former top officials, including current Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini: Siman Tov, et. al vs. UNRWA, et. al, Case No. 24-CV-4765 (S.D.N.Y.) June 24, 2024
Lawsuit by for civil damages against UNRWA and its top leadership filed by more than 100 October 7 victims and their families. The lawsuit includes a novel claim that UNRWA intentionally paid its employees in USD cash knowing they would have to use the services of Hamas money changers, generating additional revenue for Hamas from the commissions and also giving Hamas access to USD cash to spend on its terrorist infrastructure. Filed by MM-Law LLC and Amini LLC. Reported by The Jewish Chronicle, Times of Israel, JNS, and others.
While the complaint does not directly cite UN Watch, it is clear that our researched influenced the complaint.
UNRWA Immunity
On July 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a Statement of Interest in the case asserting that UNRWA and the individual defendants have immunity from the lawsuit under the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the UN. The relevant statements and briefs on the immunity issue are listed below.
- UN Letter asserting immunity, dated July 17, 2024
- U.S. Department of Justice Statement of Interest, filed July 30, 2024
- Plaintiffs’ Memo of Law in Opposition to U.S. Statement of Interest, filed September 13, 2024
- Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiffs on Immunity, filed September 20, 2024
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⚖️ Lawsuit Against UNRWA USA: Lavi et al v. UNRWA USA, Case No. 24-CV-312 (D. Del.)
March 7, 2024
Lawsuit for civil damages pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Alien Tort Statute, and state law brought by 10 survivors of the October 7th Hamas massacre against UNRWA USA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which serves as the U.S. fundraising arm for UNRWA. The lawsuit alleges that UNRWA USA solicited funds for UNRWA knowing and intending that the funds would be used by Hamas and its members for terrorism. Filed by National Jewish Advocacy Center and The International Legal Forum. Reported by The Wall Street Journal, referencing UN Watch’s Terrorgram report (also cited below).
The complaint extensively cited UN Watch material, including the following:
- Updated List of Countries Suspending UNRWA Funding
- Fact Checking UNRWA Claims About Teachers and Education
- UN Teachers Call To Murder Jews, Reveals New Report
- UNRWA Education: Reform or Regression? A Review of UNRWA Teachers and Schools Concerning Incitement to Hate and Violence
- UNRWA’s Terrorgram: How a Telegram Group pf 3,000 UNRWA Teachers in Gaza Celebrated the October 7th Hamas Massacre
- UNRWA’s Terrorgram
- UNRWA: Refuting UN Claim That Terrorgram is Not for UNRWA Employees
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⚖️ Lawsuit to Stop U.S. Government Funding: Halley et al v. Blinken, Case No. 24-CV-571 (D.D.C.)
Feb. 28, 2024
Lawsuit brought by over 8,000 Israeli and American citizens against U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the Department of State seeking a permanent injunction against any further funding to UNRWA, or in the alternative a temporary injunction until UNRWA produces irrefutable evidence that none of its funding is being diverted to Hamas or other terrorist activities. Filed by Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center. Reported by Jerusalem Post.
The complaint extensively cited UN Watch material, including the following:
- UNRWA Hate Starts Here: How UNRWA Teachers Indoctrinate Palestinian Children and Promote Terrorism and Antisemitism
- UNRWA’s Terrorgram: How a Telegram Group pf 3,000 UNRWA Teachers in Gaza Celebrated the October 7th Hamas Massacre
- UNRWA’s Teachers of Hate: 2022 Report Exposing UNRWA Teachers’ Incitement to Terrorism and Antisemitism
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France
⚖️ Complaint to French Minister of Finance Bruno Le Maire and French Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne Re: Combatting the Financing of Terrorism – Financing UNRWA (English Translation)
April 11, 2024
Letter complaint on behalf of victims of the October 7 Hamas attacks arguing that France’s financing of UNRWA is illegal under French law against terror-financing due to the agency’s complicity with Hamas terrorism. Filed by lawyer Francois Zimeray.
The complaint extensively cited UN Watch material, including the following:
- UNRWA Education: Reform or Regression? A Review of UNRWA Teachers and Schools Concerning Incitement to Hate and Violence
- UNRWA’s Terrorgram: How a Telegram Group pf 3,000 UNRWA Teachers in Gaza Celebrated the October 7th Hamas Massacre
⚖️ Demand to Prosecute UNRWA For Crimes Against Humanity: France-Israel Association – Alliance Général Koenig complaint to Paris Judicial Tribunal (Crimes Against Humanity Division)
Feb. 8, 2024
Complaint seeking the appointment of an investigating judge to investigate UNRWA for crimes against humanity and complicity with Hamas atrocities. Filed by David-Olivier Kaminski. Reported by France TV Info, L’Orient Le Jour, 20 Minutes.
The complaint extensively cited UN Watch material, including the following:
- UNRWA Education: Reform or Regression? A Review of UNRWA Teachers and Schools Concerning Incitement to Hate and Violence
- UNRWA’s Terrorgram: How a Telegram Group pf 3,000 UNRWA Teachers in Gaza Celebrated the October 7th Hamas Massacre
- Testimony by UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer in U.S. Congress
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For More information, see The Case Against UNRWA
On World Humanitarian Day, we are calling for the prosecution of UNRWA leaders for War Crimes
⭕ UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini funds Hamas terrorists Fathi al-Sharif & Suhail al-Hindi, heads of UNRWA Teachers Unions
⭕ Legal proceedings have now begun: https://t.co/O8IAfIVXon pic.twitter.com/QZiabwXRIJ— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) August 19, 2024
