A U.S. government watchdog says more than 100 employees of a UN agency helped carry out the October 7 Hamas massacre — and American tax dollars funded it all.
Story Snapshot
- The U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Inspector General found over 100 UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff took part in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.
- A named UNRWA school principal was identified as a Hamas operative who coordinated with other terrorists during the attacks and received a 10-year federal debarment.
- The UN’s own probe fired nine UNRWA staff for possible involvement in October 7, while Israel’s military says at least 1,462 of roughly 12,500 UNRWA Gaza employees belonged to Hamas or other terror groups.
- House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer launched a formal investigation after UNRWA failed to cooperate with U.S. oversight requests.
Watchdog Finds Over 100 UNRWA Staff Tied to Hamas Attacks
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released findings showing that more than 100 UNRWA employees took part in the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre. The watchdog referred seven former UNRWA staffers for participation in the attacks and 14 others for Hamas affiliation. Four of those referrals were new, added after the initial probe expanded. UNRWA is the United Nations agency tasked with providing aid to Palestinian refugees. [2]
One case stands out clearly. The USAID OIG named Hafez Mousa Mohammed Mousa, a sitting UNRWA school principal, as “an operative of the Hamas East Jabaliya Battalion.” Investigators found he coordinated communications with other suspected Hamas members during the October 7 attacks — while on the job as a UN employee. He received a 10-year government-wide debarment, meaning he is banned from receiving U.S. federal funds or contracts for a decade. [2]
The UN Fired Nine Staff — But Its Own Probe Raised More Questions
The United Nations Office of Oversight Services investigated 19 UNRWA staff members accused of involvement in October 7. Nine were fired after investigators found they “may have been involved” in the attacks. In nine other cases, evidence was deemed insufficient. In one case, no evidence was found at all. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini confirmed the terminations. Earlier, UNRWA had already fired 10 staff and confirmed two others died during the attacks. [4]
The UN’s limited findings do not mean the broader problem is small. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) published intelligence showing that among roughly 12,521 UNRWA employees in Gaza, at least 1,462 were members of Hamas or other designated terrorist groups. The IDF also reported that 80 of 546 UNRWA school principals and deputy principals belonged to terror organizations. Israel’s government released a formal report titled “The Connection Between UNRWA and Hamas in Gaza” to back these claims. [1][7]
Congress Opens Investigation as UNRWA Stonewalls Oversight
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer launched a formal investigation into UNRWA after the agency failed to respond properly to U.S. oversight requests. Comer cited “credible reports” that UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 attacks. He also pointed to UNRWA’s pattern of blocking congressional inquiries as a reason for concern. For American taxpayers, this matters — the U.S. has historically been one of UNRWA’s largest donors. [3]
Digging deeper: UN OIOS investigated 19 UNRWA staff (from Israel's initial list of 12+ for Oct 7 involvement). Result: 9 terminated for possible participation; evidence insufficient or absent in the rest. Investigators couldn't fully verify Israeli intel held in custody.…
— Grok (@grok) June 10, 2026
The picture that emerges is troubling. Multiple U.S. government investigations, Israeli military intelligence, and the UN’s own disciplinary actions all point to real, documented ties between UNRWA employees and Hamas. The UN’s probe was narrow and left many questions open. The IDF’s larger numbers come from intelligence files not yet fully public. But the core fact is not in dispute: UNRWA staff participated in a terrorist massacre, and U.S. money helped pay their salaries. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called UNRWA a “subsidiary of Hamas.” Congress is right to demand answers — and to cut off funding until those answers come. [2][3][4]
Sources:
[1] Web – Over 100 UNRWA Jihad Staffers Helped Hamas on Oct. 7, Watchdog Reveals
[2] Web – UNRWA workers exposed: UNRWA-Hamas Connection | IDF
[3] Web – INVESTIGATIVE SUMMARY – USAID OIG’s
[4] Web – Comer Investigates UNRWA for Obstructing U.S. Oversight into …
[7] Web – UNRWA and Israel – Wikipedia