Trump may seek terrorism-related sanctions against Palestinian aid agency

Reuters reports the Trump administration is discussing possible terrorism-related sanctions against the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), and officials say no final decision has been made.

The administration is reportedly weighing terrorism-related sanctions against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). UNRWA provides aid, schooling, healthcare and shelter to Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Israeli officials have accused some UNRWA employees of involvement in the October 7, 2023 attack, and the U.S. halted funding to the agency in January 2024. Reuters sources say discussions are advanced but no final action has been taken. Known details: - Two sources with direct knowledge told Reuters that officials have held advanced discussions about sanctions targeting UNRWA. - UN officials and the UN Security Council have described UNRWA as central to humanitarian aid in Gaza, while Israeli authorities have accused some staff of links to the October 7 attack. - Reported options under consideration include labeling parts of the agency or individuals as terrorist-linked or, more unusually, designating the agency as a foreign terrorist organization; other targeted sanctions such as asset freezes or travel bans have also been mentioned. - The reporting says politically appointed staff at the State Department are pushing the idea, while many career officials and lawyers have raised legal and humanitarian concerns; no final decision has been announced. Summary: Supporters of UNRWA have warned that a blanket terrorism designation would disrupt refugee relief efforts and worsen an ongoing funding crisis. The U.S. government has not announced any decision and the next steps are undetermined at this time.