The attempt to whitewash UNRWA must be exposed - Opinion

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, more famously known as UNRWA, is supposed to provide humanitarian relief and support for Palestinians; however, there have been allegations over the years, and especially since October 7^th, that UNRWA is linked to Hamas. We have seen that UNRWA employees participated in the October 7^th massacre and were involved in harboring the Israelis who were taken as hostages on that day.

These horrifying discoveries led to multiple countries suspending their donations to UNRWA and to Israel deciding to work with the World Food Program (WFP) instead of UNRWA.

While some donor states and Israel are pushing to replace UNRWA with a new entity to help Palestinian civilians, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres started his own campaign to whitewash UNRWA’s crimes on October 7^th and Hamas’ takeover of the UN agency.

However, according to a recently released report by UN Watch, the UN’s independent review group is anything but independent. The group consists of 3 organizations that have a history of pro-UNRWA and anti-Israel bias and employ people who have accused Israel of ethnic cleansing, apartheid, and even genocide.

Anti-Israel Scandinavian Trio

Looking at the names of the three groups the UNSC handpicked, one would not recognize their inherent anti-Israel ideology. But I’m here to tell you about it.

CMI has also written about UNRWA in the past and expressed deep concern about its “funding crisis.” Does this sound neutral and independent?

 In addition, the Executive Director of Sweden’s RWI, Peter Lundberg, posted an article on his X account in 2016 titled: “The international community - Israel is building an oppressive system that is a combination of apartheid, Indian reservations, and the wall in Eastern Europe.” And since the October 7^th massacre, Lundberg has “liked” numerous posts expressing support of UNRWA, again even after allegations were made that the agency is linked to Hamas.

Finally, the last member of the “independent review” group, the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), has also expressed anti-Israel views and has questionable ties to Palestinian groups.

Recently, DIHR voiced support for South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, in which it accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. In 2021, DIHR’s Communications Director Jacob Sheikh posted on his X account that Israel has “illegally occupied” the Palestinians for 70 years, effectively delegitimizing Israel’s right to exist even in the pre-1967 borders. 

DIHR also works with the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR), which was founded by members of the US-designated terror group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). ICHR regularly shows support and hosts events with members of other terror groups like Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

Attempt to Whitewash UNRWA So Donations Will Flow Again

With the review group’s final report set to be published in late April, the public and UNRWA donor states need to understand the true nature of the review.

We shouldn’t hold our breath with this report; it’s just another transparent attempt to whitewash the corrupt, Hamas-infested UN agency with only one goal in mind – to resume the donations and ensure its survival.

Conrad Myrland is the CEO of Med Israel for fred (MIFF, With Israel for peace), a pro-Israel group in Norway. MIFF is also active in Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland.  

This op-ed is published in partnership with a coalition of organizations that fight antisemitism across the world. Read the previous article by Angel Mas.