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Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman Brian Mast (R-FL), Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, requesting he testify publicly before the committee regarding the many troubling allegations leveled at UNRWA, including that employees participated in Hamas’ brutal October 7 attacks, which killed more than 1,200 innocent people. The letter follows a statement made in January by Chairman McCaul demanding Lazzarini testify publicly regarding these allegations. The Members previously sent a letter to Lazzarini requesting answers about reports that Hamas diverted food, fuel, and supplies from UNRWA humanitarian relief efforts. 

“[On] January 30th, the Committee received public testimony from subject matter experts who testified to these recent allegations and other past UNRWA failures,” wrote the lawmakers. “Their statements stand in sharp contrast to UNRWA’s claims. Given their critical testimony, the allegations of connections to Hamas terrorists, and the millions of taxpayer dollars already sent to UNRWA this fiscal year, it is now more important than ever that the American people hear from you directly in a public setting.”

 

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

 

Dear Mr. Philippe Lazzarini:

Thank you for your January 25, 2024, letter indicating your willingness to appear before the members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in a closed, members-only setting. The letter cites UN privileges and immunities that forebear you from being compelled to testify in an open session.

With regards to your letter, we must first point out that UN privileges and immunities do not forbear voluntary testimony. Second, many members of this Committee are gravely concerned, but sadly, unsurprised, by allegations that employees of UNRWA participated in the horrendous October 7th attack and that thousands of employees have familial or direct ties to Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Furthermore, we are outraged by recent reporting that a Hamas military installation and server room is located directly beneath UNRWA’s Gaza headquarters. To make matters worse, Hamas operated this installation by siphoning electricity from UNRWA.

While we support the pause of future funding to UNRWA, we know that the agency has received roughly $121 million in funding from the State Department since October 1, 2023. Moreover, on January 30th, the Committee received public testimony from subject matter experts who testified to these recent allegations and other past UNRWA failures. Their statements stand in sharp contrast to UNRWA’s claims.

Given their critical testimony, the allegations of connections to Hamas terrorists, and the millions of taxpayer dollars already sent to UNRWA this fiscal year, it is now more important than ever that the American people hear from you directly in a public setting.

Therefore, we request that you appear voluntarily before the House Foreign Affairs Committee to testify at a public hearing. While you initially indicated this was untenable, we will note that you appeared before the European Parliament on September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022, for an Exchange of Views in the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET). If you are willing to appear before the AFET, you surely can and would be willing to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee especially given the United States’ long term and considerable financial support to UNRWA.

Please indicate your willingness and availability to appear voluntarily for a public hearing by no later than March 14, 2024.

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