Israeli Plaintiffs Sue UNRWA Over Alleged Money Laundering, Funding of Hamas, and October 7th Attack

Jun 24, 2024, 03:07 PM

Over 100 Israeli plaintiffs, including survivors and relatives of victims of the October 7th Hamas attack, have filed a lawsuit against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleges that UNRWA and its senior directors were involved in a billion-dollar money laundering operation that funded Hamas and diverted humanitarian aid intended for Gaza. Specific accusations include aiding and abetting the October 7th attack and holding hostages, with one plaintiff, Ditza Heiman, testifying she was held captive by an UNRWA teacher. The lawsuit names several UN officials, including UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Pierre Krahenbuhl, and Stenseth.