UN fires more staffers and confirms multiple workers were possibly involved in Oct. 7 terror attacks

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The U.N. agency operating in Gaza fired several staffers in January after Israeli authorities provided evidence of their alleged involvement in the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Two of the 12 staffers accused are dead.

Keenly aware that the U.N. depends largely on American funding and on the generosity of other nations allied with Israel, U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini promised that any "UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution."

Following the initial layoffs, the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services conducted a months-long investigation to determine the extent of the terrorist rot in Lazzarini's organization, during which other staffers were flagged as potential terrorists.

'The UN is incapable of running a state-like enterprise in Gaza without being infiltrated by terrorist organizations.'

The U.S., the U.K., Canada, and 13 other nations cut off funding to UNRWA pending the results of the investigation. The American pause on funding, in particular, likely prompted the organization to take the matter especially seriously granted the U.S. provided the UNRWA with $422 million in 2023 alone.

On Monday — just days after the Israeli government stated that "the UN is incapable of running a state-like enterprise in Gaza without being infiltrated by terrorist organizations" — the OIOS concluded its report.

According to the U.N., investigators reviewed email records, information on agency vehicles, and information from other sources, including communications with several member states.

While Israeli intelligence was apparently critically important, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq claimed that "since information used by Israeli officials to support the allegations have remained in Israeli custody, OIOS was not able to independently authenticate most of the information provided to it."

Although the report remains confidential, Lazzarini detailed the OIOS' findings regarding the 19 UNRWA staffers allegedly involved in the terrorist attacks.

In the case of one of the accused, Lazzarini said that "no evidence was obtained by OIOS to support the allegations of the staff member's involvement. That staff member has rejoined the Agency."

The commissioner further claimed that the evidence presented in nine of the 19 cases was insufficient to support the staffers' involvement in the terror attacks and that those investigations have been closed.

The OIOS apparently was wiling to acknowledge that nine of the accused were potential terrorists.

"For the remaining nine cases, the evidence — if authenticated and corroborated — could indicate that the UNRWA staff members may have been involved in the attacks of 7 October," said Lazzarini. "I have decided that in the case of these remaining nine staff members, they cannot work for UNRWA. All contracts of these staff members will be terminated in the interest of the Agency."

Israeli Ambassador Gilad Erdan blasted the report, stating, "The UN investigation, which focused exclusively on 19 UNRA workers, is a disgrace! Too little and too late. The investigation ignored the thousands of agency employees involved in the terrorist activities of Hamas, and the scope of the involvement."

"The Secretary General should resign and UNRA should be closed!" continued Erdan. "Israel needs to act quickly now to outlaw UNRA, declare it a terrorist organization and expel its leaders from Israeli territory and not allow them to enter."

The OIOS report comes several months after a separate review panel headed by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna stressed the need for UNRWA to implement strategies to address "increased politicization among its staff, affecting its neutrality."

The panel's final report also raised concerns about the misuse of UNRWA facilities for "political or military gains."

Even if the U.S. joins Canada, Australia, and other nations in reversing its funding pause to the UNRWA following the conclusion of the OIOS investigation, Reuters indicated that renewed funding will require congressional approval. After all, Republicans in Congress successfully passed legislation to defund the agency in March.

'Not one more penny of YOUR tax dollars should go to UNRWA.'

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) said at the time that the corresponding bill, H.R. 2882, "prohibits funds to UNRWA, which has become the de facto subsidiary of Hamas. The passage of this bill means not one additional dollar from the American taxpayer will go to this deeply flawed organization."

It appears there may be some opposition to reversing course on UNRWA funding.

Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.) tweeted Monday, "The United Nations just ADMITTED that UNRWA employed the TERRORISTS who butchered and raped American and Israeli citizens on October 7th. Not one more penny of YOUR tax dollars should go to UNRWA."

Sen. Marsha Blackburn also wrote, "We should never give another penny to antisemitic, terrorist supporting UNRWA."

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How the EU Could FORCE Americans to Follow ESG Rules

How the EU Could FORCE Americans to Follow ESG Rules

The WHO didn't get its pandemic treaty through. Critics say it still managed to consolidate 'unchecked authority.'

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WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other globalists have campaigned feverishly in recent months to promote an international pandemic agreement, lashing out at those who dared to suggest the legally binding pact would undermine American sovereignty and burden U.S. taxpayers with yet more financial obligations, as well as at those who noted that the WHO is an untrustworthy, corruption-prone, and Chinese communist-compromised organization.

Ghebreyesus, who leaned on concern-mongering about "Disease X" to move the needle, sought a successful vote on the globalist pact at the 77th meeting of World Health Assembly from May 27 to June 1 in Geneva, Switzerland. His hopes were dashed as the Assembly couldn't agree on the wording or passage of the pact.

Blaze News previously reported that the WHA did, however, manage to adopt a package of amendments to the International Health Regulations allegedly aimed at strengthening "global preparedness, surveillance and responses to public health emergencies, including pandemics."

Critics have expressed concern that the amendments, adopted by "consensus" contra an actual vote, might not be as advertised or even be legal under the WHO's own rules.

American biochemist Dr. Robert Malone claimed Monday that the "hastily approved IHR [amendments] consolidate virtually unchecked authority and power of the Director-General to declare public health emergencies and pandemics as he/she may choose to define them, and thereby to trigger and guide allocation of global resources as well as a wide range of public health actions and guidances."

'The WHO's failure during the COVID-19 pandemic was as total as it was predictable and did lasting harm to our country.'

The IHR make up a legally binding international instrument authorized under Article 21 of the WHO Constitution to which all 194 member states of the WHO, including the U.S., are parties. While amendments submitted to the WHA can be advanced by consensus, decision-making by vote "is a legally available option."

WHO member states agreed in January 2022 to consider potential amendments to the IHR. This decision was prompted, in part, by concerns over "the negative effects of discrimination, misinformation and stigmatization on public health emergency prevention, preparedness and response as well as unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade, and recognizing the need for strengthened coordination."

The amendments were negotiated parallel to the so-far unsuccessful pandemic pact but crafted in the same spirit.

According to Liberty Council, the proposed amendments took "major steps in the wake of COVID-19 to conform and integrate each nation's pandemic responses by directing them to develop 'core' capabilities in areas of Surveillance (vaccine passports/digital health certificates), Risk Communication (censoring misinformation and disinformation), Implementation of Control Measures (social distancing/lockdowns), Access to Health Services and Products (greater sharing of resources and technologies between countries), and more."

The Kaiser Family Foundation reported that the Biden administration was actively engaged in the negotiations despite the urging of Republican lawmakers, such as Sens. Dr. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), to spike the amendments, noting they would "substantially increase the WHO's health emergency powers and constitute intolerable infringements upon U.S. sovereignty."

Cassidy, Johnson, and the entire Senate Republican Conference told President Joe Biden in a May 1 letter, "The WHO's failure during the COVID-19 pandemic was as total as it was predictable and did lasting harm to our country. The United States cannot afford to ignore this latest WHO inability to perform its most basic function and must insist on comprehensive WHO reforms before even considering amendments to the International Health Regulations."

'We consider any such agreement to be a treaty requiring the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate under Article II Section 2 of the Constitution.'

Like Dr. Malone and the Heritage Foundation, the Republicans indicated that the adoption of new IHR amendments at the 77th WHA would be in violation of the WHO International Health Regulations, specifically Article 55, which states, "The text of any proposed amendment shall be communicated to all States Parties by the Director-General at least four months before the Health Assembly at which it is proposed for consideration."

"As the WHO has still not provided final amendment text to member states, we submit that IHR amendments may not be considered at next month's WHA," wrote the Republican lawmakers. "Should you ignore this advice, we state in the strongest possible terms that we consider any such agreement to be a treaty requiring the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate under Article II Section 2 of the Constitution."

Extra to facing potential congressional pushback, the Biden administration negotiated the amendments with the foreknowledge that the U.S. might not be bound by them depending on the results of the 2024 election. After all, President Donald Trump is expected to once again move to withdraw America from the WHO.

'The final version of the IHRs significantly enhances the WHO’s authority.'

The WHO said in a statement Saturday that the WHA and its 194 member countries "agreed [on] a package of critical amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), and made concrete commitments to completing negotiations on a global pandemic agreement within a year, at the latest."

"The amendments to the International Health Regulations will bolster countries' ability to detect and respond to future outbreaks and pandemics by strengthening their own national capacities, and coordination between fellow States, on disease surveillance, information sharing and response," said Ghebreyesus. "This is built on commitment to equity, an understanding that health threats do not recognize national borders, and that preparedness is a collective endeavor."

Despite the insinuation of consent among member nations, the Sovereignty Coalition suggested that roughly 30% of member states were present and Ghebreyesus declined to conduct a roll-call vote.

The amendments ultimately adopted by 77th WHA include a new definition for "pandemic emergency"; another "equity"-driven international wealth redistribution mechanism; the creation of a new bureaucracy to oversee the implementation of the other half-measures; and the creation of IHR authorities for member countries to "improve coordination of implementation of the Regulations within and among countries."

While acknowledging that the language of the amendments was weakened during the negotiations, Liberty Counsel indicated that "the final version of the IHRs significantly enhances the WHO's authority."

The U.S. State Department claimed the amendments will "make the global health security architecture stronger overall while maintaining full respect for sovereignty of individual states."

The Kaiser Family Foundation indicated that if "approved at the WHA, the [IHR] revision does not require further Congressional approval or ratification in the U.S."

The British government indicated that each member state has the right to evaluate "each and every amendment before making a sovereign choice of whether to accept or opt out of each — or all of — the amendments."

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Louisiana Senate unanimously passes bill rejecting the 'overreaching hands of the WHO, UN, and WEF'

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The Louisiana Senate unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would bar the three leading globalist organizations from exerting power in and over the state.

Senate Bill 133 would specifically ensure that the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the World Economic Forum "have no jurisdiction or power within the state of Louisiana."

The proposed law authored by Republican state Sens. Valarie Hodges and Thomas A. Pressly and state Rep. Kathy Edmonston would further prohibit the state and all governmental entities in Louisiana from implementing or enforcing rules, regulations, fees, tax policies, or "mandate[s] of any kind" tied to the globalist triad.

State Sen. Hodges (District 13) told Blaze News that SB133 "comes after years of attempts to secure our state sovereignty from the overreaching hands of the WHO, U.N., and WEF."

"We have watched a horror story unfold in front of us as time has shown that the 'recommendations' and coercive regulations from outside organizations such as the WHO have harmed hundreds of thousands of Americans who took a vaccine that they were told was safe and effective," said Hodges.

"Now, we are witnessing severe, long-term side effects and countless deaths because the 'experts' were wrong," continued the senator. "These organizations coerced and strong-armed Americans into medical decisions without clinical trials or long-term studies."

Hodges noted that it was especially critical to act now that Republicans control the legislature and the governor's mansion.

If passed by the House of Representatives and ultimately ratified by Gov. Jeff Landry, then the law would go into effect on Aug. 1, 2024.

While uncertain about what the federal government or the courts may do in response to the legislation, Hodges underscored, "We, as legislators, should not base our efforts on what the courts may or may not do — we must focus on doing the right thing."

Pressly took to X to express gratitude to his colleagues "for recognizing the importance of sovereignty in our decision making and passing this bill without opposition."

"State laws should be made by our state's elected officials not international organizations," wrote Pressly.

The Republican bill comes several weeks ahead of the May 27 vote by the World Health Assembly on the WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty: a legally binding pact "under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response."

Republicans have criticized the proposal in recent months.

Blaze News previously reported that Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) claimed during a news conference in early February that the treaty suffers from "a slew of significant issues surrounding the proposed treaty — including lack of transparency, the back-room negotiations, WHO overreach and infringement on U.S. sovereignty, unknown financial obligations for U.S. taxpayers, threats to intellectual property rights and free speech, funding for abortion, and how the treaty will benefit China at the expense of the United States."

Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus, also blasted the treaty at the news conference, stating, "Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, the WHO caved to the Chinese Communist Party rather than following the science."

Wenstrup added, "Now, the WHO wants to infringe upon our national sovereignty with their proposed 'pandemic treaty.'"

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If Free Speech Doesn’t Survive Ruling Class Demagoguery, Neither Will Democracy

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-25-at-2.07.54 PM-1200x675.png crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//thefederalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Screenshot-2024-03-25-at-2.07.54%5Cu202fPM-1200x675.png%22%7D" expand=1]Ruling elites' hypocrisy and hierarchy are undermining the very institutions they purport to support.

UN’s ‘Green’ Plans Will Widen The Energy Gap, Keeping The World’s Poor In Squalor

Green energy policies hold back the developing world, creating a gulf in energy consumption between the West and nations such as Kenya.

UN finally says Israeli women were raped by Hamas terrorists on October 7

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A report published by the United Nations Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict indicated that the international body had "reasonable grounds" to believe that Hamas terrorists raped Israeli women on October 7, according to the Associated Press.

The international body also suggested that Hamas used "sexualized torture" and other cruel treatment of women during its surprise attack against the Jewish state. The development comes after Hamas defenders have insisted that the rapes never happened. The report went on to note that in some of the horrific incidents, the Israeli victims were raped just before being killed. And in other cases, Hamas terrorists raped women after they killed them.

However, Israel has expressed discontent with the international body for not overtly condemning Hamas' horrific acts or even holding a special hearing in the Security Council about the actions taken by the terrorist group. Israel Katz, the Jewish state's foreign minister, has accused the U.N. of downplaying the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7. Consequently, he has ordered the nation's special representative, Ambassador Gilad Erdan, to return home for "consultations."

Katz took to X following the U.N.'s findings, writing, "The latest @UN report starkly details Hamas's atrocities on October 7th, including mass murders, rapes, and systematic sexual offenses. Yet, silence from the Chairman. It's time for action, @antonioguterres. Hamas must be globally recognized as a terrorist entity, its supporting nations labeled as terrorism sponsors. @UNRWA's removal from Gaza is imperative, and the immediate release of hostages must be prioritized."

He continued, "I have ordered our ambassador to the U.N. Gilad Erdan to return to Israel for immediate consultations regarding the attempt to silence the serious U.N. report on the mass rapes committed by Hamas and its aides on October 7th."

— (@)

"Despite the authority granted to him, the U.N. Secretary General did not order the convening of the Security Council in view of the findings or declare Hamas a terrorist organization and impose sanctions on its supporters."

"It took the U.N. five months to finally acknowledge the shocking sex crimes committed during the Hamas terror attack on Oct.7," Erdan said in a statement. "Today, with the release of the report on the sexual abuse that Israeli female hostages are enduring, the shame of the U.N. is on clear display. The U.N. has not held even one discussion on the topic. Not even one meeting."

The report in question was compiled by Pramila Patten, the special representative of the secretary-general, who went to Israel with a team of experts last month to investigate.

Fox News Digital reported that in a statement to the media, she said the mission "found clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment has been committed against hostages."

Patten went on to say that there were "reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing against those still held in captivity."

Gal Gadot — best known for her role in "Wonder Woman" — was born in Israel and has insisted Hamas be held responsible for the rapes and sexual torture of Israeli women on October 7.

She posted to Instagram in late 2023, writing, "We claim we stand against rape, violence against women. We will not let women be victimized and then silenced. We say we believe women. Stand with women. Speak out for women."

“On October 7th, the world witnessed Hamas carrying out its violent plans in real time. Within hours of the October 7th attack, the first blood-chilling video emerged of Shani Louk being paraded naked and defiled by her proud assailants,” Gadot wrote, referring to Shani Louk, the German-Israeli tattoo artist who was kidnapped by Hamas.

The actress continued, "Yet two months later women are still hostage to these rapists and the world has failed to call this situation what it is: an urgent emergency that demands a decisive response."

"This is our moment as women and allies of women to act. I am beseeching all those who have done so much for women’s rights globally — from the UN, to the human rights community, to please join in the demand that Hamas release every single woman hostage immediately — not after the next round of international mediation, not after another day. These women cannot survive another moment of this horror."

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WHO director is upset 'conspiracy theories' may derail his global pandemic treaty

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WHO director general Tedros Ghebreyesus traveled to Dubai last week to hype "Disease X," the yet-to-be-released sequel to COVID-19 that is supposed to scare nations around the world into embracing an internationally binding pandemic treaty.

Although Ghebreyesus has fear-mongered about the hypothetical pestilence for several weeks, it appears he has finally let questions and concerns over his proposed remedies get under his skin.

In his Feb. 12 address, entitled, "A Pact with the Future: Why the Pandemic Agreement Is Mission-Critical for Humanity," Ghebreyesus lashed out at critics who have suggested his proposed "collective action" amounts to an affront to national sovereignty, suggesting that "conspiracy theories" put "the health of the world's people at risk."

Ghebreyesus painted himself as a prophet in the speech, noting that years ahead of the pandemic, he warned that the world would be ill prepared should a virus sweep the land.

"Six years ago, I stood on this stage and said the world was not prepared for a pandemic and expressed my concern at the time that a pandemic can happen any time," said Ghebreyesus. "Less than two years later, in December 2019, COVID-19 pandemic struck. And indeed the world was not prepared."

The WHO general director glossed over how the world was unprepared and in the dark largely on account of his organization and China. While Beijing covered up the spread of the virus, putting the world behind in taking action, Ghebreyesus reportedly provided smoke cover for Beijing's deceit at the outset; told the nations of the world not to restrict travelers from China or close their borders even though China had domestically; and then later granted Beijing a veto over the WHO's COVID-19 origins report.

In his address, Ghebreyesus noted that some "progress" has been made since the pandemic in the way of internationalist schemes and collective action, such as "improvements in surveillance, pandemic fund, and also the establishment of the pathogen sharing app and building capacities in vaccine production. ... Still the world is not prepared for a pandemic."

"History teaches us that the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if. It may be caused by an influenza virus or a new coronavirus," continued the bureaucrat.

Blaze News reported last month that amidst elites' talk of "Disease X," Chinese scientists crafted a coronavirus variant called GX_P@V that kills humanized mice 100% of the time, usually with late-stage brain infections. The scientists from the country on which Ghebreyesus has lavished much praise and little criticism said their mutant virus "underscores a spillover risk of FX_P2V into humans."

"Or it may be caused by a new pathogen we don't even know about yet or what we call 'Disease X,'" said Ghebreyesus, whose largely American-funded organization warned of an "infodemic" or a "an overabundance of information" in 2020.

The WHO leader suggested "Disease X" is not a novel term but indicated it has instead been used as a placeholder term since 2018 to describe pathogens that have yet to be discovered.

"COVID-19 was a Disease X," said Ghebreyesus. "There will be another Disease X or a Disease Y or a Disease Z. And as things stands, the world remains unprepared for the next Disease X."

The bureaucrat's preferred solution to this viral alphabet is the WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty: a legally binding pact "under the Constitution of the World Health Organization to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response."

Ghebreyesus is scrambling to get the treaty finalized ahead of a May 27 vote by the World Health Assembly. In the meantime, critics are pointing out the treaty's apparent flaws.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) noted at a press conference earlier this month that the so-called pandemic treaty suffers from "a slew of significant issues surrounding the proposed treaty — including lack of transparency, the back-room negotiations, WHO overreach and infringement on U.S. sovereignty, unknown financial obligations for U.S. taxpayers, threats to intellectual property rights and free speech, funding for abortion, and how the treaty will benefit China at the expense of the United States."

"Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, the WHO caved to the Chinese Communist Party rather than following the science," said Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus. "Now, the WHO wants to infringe upon our national sovereignty with their proposed 'pandemic treaty.'"

At the same press conference, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, suggested, "This is a global power grab using any future emergency as a justification to use that power."

Ghebreyesus claimed in Dubai that a "major barrier" to the successful implementation of his pandemic treaty is "the litany of lies and conspiracy theories about the agreement — that it's a power grab by the World Health Organization; that it will cede sovereignty to WHO; that it will give WHO power to impose lockdowns or vaccine mandates on countries; that it's an attack on freedom; that WHO will not allow people to travel; and that WHO wants to control people's lives."

"If these lies weren't so dangerous, these lies would be funny," said Ghebreyesus. "But they put the health of the world's people at risk, and that is no laughing matter."

"These claims are utterly, completely, categorically false," added the WHO head.

After suggesting that the internationalist scheme bolstered individual nations' sovereignty and would not empower the WHO to intervene in the domestic choices of various countries, Ghebreyesus underscored, "We cannot allow this historic agreement, this milestone in global health, to be sabotaged by those who spread lies, either deliberately or unknowingly."

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UN Relief chief makes startling claim about what his organization really thinks about Hamas

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A top U.N. official prompted outrage this week with the suggestion that Hamas is not a terrorist organization — once again bolstering critics' suspicions that the U.N. has a soft spot or, at the very least, a blind spot for terrorists.

Martin Griffiths, a British diplomat who formerly served as the U.N. special envoy for Yemen and now serves both as U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and as emergency relief coordinator, appeared Wednesday on Sky News to discuss humanitarian concerns in Gaza and Israel's war on terrorism.

After telling Sky News' Yalda Hakim that the situation in Gaza amounts to the worst humanitarian crisis he has observed in his 50-year career — apparently worse than the genocide of up to 3 million people by the Red Khmers in Cambodia or the civil war in Syria that claimed roughly 600,000 lives — the bureaucrat suggested an Israeli ground operation in Rafah, where Israeli captives were recently liberated, would be ruinous.

Hakim asked Griffiths, "In terms of Israel's plan to eliminate Hamas and have them never be part of any future negotiation when it comes to Gaza, do you think that's realistic?"

"I think it's very difficult," answered the U.N. official. "As you've said, I've worked with many, many different terrorist and insurgent groups. Hamas is not a terrorist group for us, as you know. It's a political movement."

— (@)

While the collective to which Griffiths belongs may not regard Hamas as a terrorist group, much of the civilized world does.

Hamas is an acronym for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement." According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the bloodthirsty Islamist group "is committed to armed resistance against Israel and the creation of an Islamic Palestinian state in Israel's place."

Hamas' revised and slightly toned-down 2017 charter indicates it seeks Israel's annihilation and intends to make Jerusalem the capital of an alternate Islamic state.

"Not one stone of Jerusalem can be surrendered or relinquished," says the terrorist charter. "The measures undertaken by the occupiers in Jerusalem, such as Judaisation, settlement building, and establishing facts on the ground are fundamentally null and void."

The charter adds, "Resistance and jihad for the liberation of Palestine will remain a legitimate right, a duty and an honour for all the sons and daughters of our people and our Ummah. ... Resisting the occupation with all means and methods is a legitimate right guaranteed by divine laws and by international norms and laws. At the heart of these lies armed resistance, which is regarded as the strategic choice."

Hamas is responsible for countless attacks on civilians and Israeli soldiers as well as to terror plots around the world, including in Germany and Denmark. In October 2023, Hamas terrorists butchered thousands of Israeli citizens along with dozens of American citizens. The group also took hundreds of hostages.

The United States, the U.N.'s largest donor, has recognized Hamas as a terrorist organization three times.

Matthew Levitt, a specialist on Hamas at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy, told Voice of America the first designation "predates the current terrorism lists and came in the process of the peace process under the Clinton administration in 1995."

The U.S. formally recognized Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization on Oct. 8, 1997, roughly 10 years after the group was established. When the Bush administration created a special global terrorism list after the 9/11 attacks on the homeland, the U.S. designated the Hamas a terror group once more.

"The simple, most basic definition is targeting civilians for the purpose of effecting social or political change," said Levitt. "Personally, I simplify it a little bit more: It's about the tactic. Terrorism is a tactic and if you engage in this tactic of targeting civilians for the purpose of effecting social and political change then that act is an act of terrorism."

The United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, Argentina, Canada, and Japan are among the other relatively civilized nations that have designated Hamas a terrorist group.

Despite an attempt in 2014 by a top court to annul the bloc's decision, the European Union has nevertheless maintained that Hamas, including Hamas-Izz al-Din al-Qassem, is a terrorist organization.

Griffiths, who does not regard Hamas to be a terrorist organization, told Hakim, "I think it's very difficult to dislodge these groups without a negotiated solution, which includes their aspirations. I cannot think of an example offhand of a place where a victory through warfare has succeeded against a well-entrenched group."

Despite having trouble imagining a Gaza free of influence of Hamas terrorists, Griffiths indicated he could appreciate why it might be difficult for Israelis not to pursue the terrorist group's eradication.

"I've seen the horrors of what happened to Israelis [on Oct. 7.] I have met hostage families. I have total understanding, I believe, of the trauma that that's caused," said Griffith. "But I would add that if you want to have safety and security with people who are going to inevitably continue to be your neighbor in some form or another, you're going to have to create a relationship based on some shared values."

The watchdog group StopAntisemitism responded to Griffiths' suggestion that Hamas is not a terrorism group, writing, "We have no words."

Following this and other critics of his comments, Griffiths wrote on X, "Just to clarify: Hamas is not on the list of groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United Nations Security Council. This doesn't make their acts of terror on 7 October any less horrific and reprehensible, as I've been saying all along."

The official X account for the State of Israel responded to the suppose clarification, "Just to clarify: @UNReliefChief you're a Hamas apologist and your statements are an insult to every single victim of October 7th. Pathetic."

Just to clarify: @UNReliefChief you\u2019re a Hamas apologist and your statements are an insult to every single victim of\nOctober 7th. \n\nPathetic.
— (@)

Israel War Room responded, "Can you clarify *why* Hamas isn't on the UN's list of designated terror organizations? because we can't think of one good reason."

The German Foreign Office rushed to reiterate that the EU "has listed Hamas as a terrorist organization and so have many others."

Karoline Edtstadler, an Austrian federal minister for the EU, also noted, "The EU has listed Hamas as a terrorist organisation for more than 20 years. We always saw Hamas for what it was. No excuses for those who turned a blind eye before 7 October."

The U.N. not only fails to recognize Hamas as terrorists; it apparently works hand-in-glove with the group.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency was recently exposed for its alleged infiltration by Hamas. The New York Times reported that Israeli military officials have provided U.S. officials with a dossier indicating roughly 10% of the UNRWA's employees are members of Hamas.

UN chief: Gaza the 'worst humanitarian crisis' he's seen | Israel-Hamasyoutu.be

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US halts funding of UN agency in Gaza over allegations that workers participated in Oct. 7 attack on Israel

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The United States is pausing its funding of a United Nations agency tasked with providing aid to Palestinians after at least a dozen employees were accused of participating directly in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has long faced accusations that its workers are anti-Israel and support Hamas. On Friday, UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini confirmed an investigation into employees whom Israel accuses of participating in Oct. 7.

"The Israeli Authorities have provided UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on 7 October," Lazzarini said.

With evidence in hand, Lazzarini said the UNRWA has fired the accused workers. He explained:

To protect the Agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay. Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution.

In response, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the United Nations needs "major changes."

"Terrorism under the guise of humanitarian work is a disgrace to the @UN and the principles it claims to represent," Gallant said.

Meanwhile, the State Department said the U.S. will temporarily halt sending any taxpayer money to the UNRWA.

"The United States is extremely troubled by the allegations that twelve UNRWA employees may have been involved in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel," spokesman Matthew Miller said. "The Department of State has temporarily paused additional funding for UNRWA while we review these allegations and the steps the United Nations is taking to address them."

American taxpayers fund a significant portion of the agency's budget, which was $1.6 billion in 2022. Former President Donald Trump suspended aid to the UNRWA in 2018, but Biden restarted the funding after he came into office.

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