Senior officials from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) privately urged congressional staffers to oppose a possible Trump administration move that could label the agency a foreign terrorist organization, according to details obtained by Fox News Digital. The outreach reflects growing alarm within the agency as scrutiny intensifies over its role in Gaza and the West Bank amid ongoing allegations of ties to Hamas and concerns raised by Israeli officials.
The lobbying effort took place during a video conference briefing on December 17, organized by UNRWA USA, a U.S.-based nonprofit that supports the agency through fundraising and advocacy. The meeting brought together UNRWA leadership, field officials, and bipartisan congressional staffers, focusing on the agency’s continued operations in Palestinian territories and the potentially severe consequences of a terrorism designation.
Opening the session, UNRWA USA Executive Director Mara Kronenfeld framed the discussion as both an update on humanitarian conditions and an appeal for political support. She emphasized that UNRWA remains operational in Gaza and the West Bank, despite mounting restrictions and opposition from the Israeli government.
Kronenfeld accused Israel’s current leadership of pursuing what she described as a systematic effort to undermine UNRWA’s ability to operate, arguing that such actions threaten critical humanitarian services. She urged congressional offices to recognize the agency’s ongoing presence on the ground and to intervene should the Trump administration move forward with punitive measures.
According to briefing materials reviewed by Fox News Digital, participants were explicitly asked to consider steps to prevent a foreign terrorist organization designation, which would effectively sever UNRWA from U.S. engagement and funding while potentially triggering broader legal and diplomatic fallout.
“Unprecedented and Unwarranted,” UNRWA Says
Bill Deere, UNRWA’s director in Washington, addressed the reports directly, telling staffers that press coverage suggesting the administration was weighing a terrorism designation appeared credible. He characterized the possibility as extraordinary and unjustified.
Designating a United Nations agency as a foreign terrorist organization would be without precedent, Deere argued, warning that such a move could ripple across the entire U.N. system. He maintained that multiple independent investigations had rejected Israeli claims that UNRWA employees were systematically involved with Hamas or other militant groups.
Deere encouraged congressional offices to voice strong opposition, saying lawmakers could publicly criticize the administration or take legislative action to reverse a designation. He noted that Congress holds the authority to override such a determination, though he acknowledged that UNRWA’s legal options would be limited if the administration proceeded.
The discussion highlighted the growing political divide in Washington over UNRWA, with critics increasingly portraying the agency as compromised, while supporters argue it remains indispensable to humanitarian stability in the region.
Operations Continue Despite Restrictions
UNRWA field leaders used the briefing to describe conditions inside Gaza and the West Bank, emphasizing that operations have continued even amid security challenges and legal constraints.
Sam Rose, UNRWA’s director of affairs in Gaza, said international staff were no longer entering the territory due to Israeli Knesset legislation but stressed that services were being managed remotely. Despite repeated claims that the agency had been blocked or shut down, Rose insisted UNRWA’s work had not stopped for a single day.
He cited ongoing primary healthcare delivery, water and sanitation services, shelter operations, and education programs, noting that UNRWA facilities continue to serve as emergency shelters for displaced civilians. Rose also emphasized the agency’s ability to sustain programs that do not rely on constant deliveries of physical aid.
Cash-based assistance, job creation initiatives, and other financial support mechanisms, he said, remain operational and scalable, allowing UNRWA to reach large numbers of people even under restrictions.
In the West Bank, Roland Friedrich, director of UNRWA affairs in the territory, outlined the scope of the agency’s presence, which includes education, healthcare, food assistance, and social protection programs serving hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees.
Friedrich described various forms of aid, including cash transfers, food vouchers, and rent assistance for displaced families. He argued that UNRWA’s role extends beyond humanitarian relief, asserting that its presence contributes to regional stability across several Middle Eastern countries.
Navigating Restrictions and Aid Flows
The briefing also addressed how UNRWA continues to function despite limitations on access and coordination. Rose explained that fuel deliveries were still occurring, often facilitated through indirect coordination involving third-party intermediaries and U.N. channels. Fuel supplies, he said, remain essential for running generators, water pumps, and medical equipment.
On the broader flow of aid into Gaza, Rose acknowledged Israeli reports indicating that up to 600 trucks per day were entering the territory. While he said he had no reason to dispute the overall figures, he argued that the composition of shipments had changed.
According to Rose, commercial goods now make up a larger share of incoming supplies, while certain humanitarian items remain restricted for U.N. agencies. He described what he called a two-tier system, in which items barred from UNRWA use are still able to enter Gaza through private channels.
Legislative Advocacy and Funding Push
Beyond operational briefings, the meeting included a clear advocacy component. Kronenfeld urged congressional staffers to support proposed legislation referred to during the session as the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2025.
She reminded participants that the United States had historically been UNRWA’s largest donor prior to the suspension of funding in 2024, thanking offices that had already backed efforts to restore U.S. contributions.
UNRWA USA did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital. The UNRWA headquarters also declined to comment directly.
In a written statement, William Deere reiterated that UNRWA regularly participates in briefings with bipartisan congressional staff, think tanks, and nongovernmental organizations. He described such meetings as vital opportunities to counter what he called Israeli disinformation about UNRWA’s activities.
Deere emphasized that UNRWA staff continue to deliver essential services in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, including healthcare, education, immunization campaigns, waste disposal, and water distribution. He also highlighted the agency’s “back to learning” initiative, which he said currently serves nearly 70,000 children in Gaza through in-person education programs.