Bombshell October 7 Report Rocks UN
More than 100 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees have been referred for suspension or debarment from receiving U.S. taxpayer-funded aid after a federal watchdog found evidence linking them to Hamas and the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.
According to a newly disclosed investigative summary from the U.S. Agency for International Development's Office of Inspector General, 101 additional individuals have been referred for debarment or suspension based on either direct participation in the attack or affiliation with Hamas' military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
The findings add to a growing controversy surrounding UNRWA, which has faced increasing scrutiny over allegations that some of its employees maintained ties to terrorist organizations operating in Gaza.
Among those referred were school principals, teachers, security personnel, counselors, attendants, and medical professionals employed by the U.N. agency.
The inspector general's report described multiple cases involving individuals who allegedly held dual roles within UNRWA and Hamas.
One deputy school principal was identified as simultaneously serving as a deputy commander within al-Qassam. Another deputy principal reportedly acted as a squad leader in a Hamas brigade operating in Khan Younis.
The report also found that five UNRWA employees worked as teachers while serving in military or intelligence capacities for Hamas or affiliated terrorist groups in Gaza.
One of those teachers allegedly assisted Hamas during the October 7 attack by transporting anti-tank missiles for the organization.
Other school administrators were accused of facilitating communications for Hamas or overseeing schools where the terrorist group maintained anti-tank positions and tunnel infrastructure beneath the facilities.
The inspector general's office stated that, as of now, a total of 108 individuals have either been suspended or debarred for participation in the October 7 attack or documented Hamas affiliations.
Those actions effectively block the individuals from receiving U.S.-funded foreign assistance programs for the next decade.
The investigation remains ongoing.
According to reports, roughly 1,500 UNRWA employees are currently under review as federal investigators continue examining potential connections between agency personnel and Hamas. A senior State Department official confirmed that figure to The New York Post.
The watchdog expanded its investigation earlier this year. The probe reportedly runs alongside a separate federal criminal investigation examining broader ties between Hamas and UNRWA operations.
USAID's inspector general emphasized that preventing terrorist organizations from accessing humanitarian aid remains a top priority.
"It remains USAID OIG's investigative priority to ensure that U.S.-funded humanitarian assistance in Gaza does not fall into the hands of Hamas and other foreign terrorist organizations, depriving assistance from reaching civilian non-combatants in need," the report stated.
The agency added that additional investigative efforts are underway to prevent individuals with terrorist affiliations from moving between aid organizations operating in Gaza and continuing to access U.S.-funded programs.
The revelations are likely to intensify political pressure on UNRWA in Washington.
Last month, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton and 24 Republican senators urged the Trump administration to push for the agency's complete dismantling and removal from the United Nations budget structure.
President Donald Trump had already moved against the organization earlier this year. In February 2025, he signed an executive order ending U.S. funding for UNRWA, citing concerns over accountability and allegations of extremist infiltration.
Despite the loss of American funding, the agency continues to receive substantial financial support from other sources. International donors reportedly contributed more than $839 million to UNRWA during 2025, while the United Nations budget allocates approximately $70 million annually to support its operations.