Rubio: UNRWA Is a ‘Subsidiary of Hamas’ and Won’t Have Any Role in Aid Distribution

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is currently in Israel and made an announcement today that did not please the United Nations. During a press briefing, Rubio said that UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, would not play any role in aid distribution within Gaza. He explained that “UNRWA became a subsidiary of Hamas.”

BREAKING: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that UNRWA will have no role in aid distribution in Gaza, naming other groups that will.

“Not UNRWA, UNRWA became a subsidiary of Hamas.”

Source: Israeli Channel 11 pic.twitter.com/tlWsNFbWXr

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) October 24, 2025

The backstory here is pretty long but the basic approach of the Trump administration is that UNRWA has been infiltrated by Hamas and should not have a role in anything in Gaza.

During the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) last month, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at a meeting in support of UNRWA, saying that the agency has “made invaluable contributions to development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security, including for Israel.”

“UNRWA is vital to any prospects for peace and stability in the region,” Guterres added.

President Donald Trump in February reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to not fund UNRWA. 

In the executive order, Trump said that “UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated by members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations, and UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.”

That came to a head on Wednesday of this week when the International Court of Justice (ICJ), whose authority the US does not recognize, issued an opinion stating that the US must allow UNRWA to provide aid to Gaza.

The International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion on Wednesday, asserting that Israel is legally obligated to allow the UN’s controversial Palestinian relief agency to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza, and stating that the provision of aid to the Strip during the war there has been inadequate.

The court dismissed Israel’s main argument for its legislation blocking UNRWA’s operations — that the organization is no longer impartial or neutral due to its “infiltration” by the Hamas terror group — stating that there was no evidence UNRWA breached the impartiality requirements under Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which it said related to discrimination in the provision of humanitarian aid and services.

The advisory opinion also found, unanimously, that Israel was obligated to ensure that the population of Gaza, as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem, “has the essential supplies of daily life, including food, water, clothing, bedding, shelter, fuel, medical supplies and services.”

Here was the State Department’s response to that opinion.

Another corrupt ruling by the ICJ.

As President Trump and Secretary Rubio work tirelessly to bring peace to the region, this so-called “court” issues a nakedly politicized non-binding “advisory opinion” unfairly bashes Israel and gives UNRWA a free pass for its deep…

— Department of State (@StateDept) October 22, 2025

As President Trump and Secretary Rubio work tirelessly to bring peace to the region, this so-called “court” issues a nakedly politicized non-binding “advisory opinion” unfairly bashes Israel and gives UNRWA a free pass for its deep entanglement with and material support for Hamas terrorism.  

This ICJ’s ongoing abuse of its advisory opinion discretion suggests that it is nothing more than a partisan political tool, which can be weaponized against Americans.

Nevertheless, in the wake of this opinion, UNRWA has been campaigning for the US and Israel to allow it to resume a role in providing aid. Here are some recent tweets from the group on X;

I welcome the unambiguous ruling by the International Court of Justice today stating that:

– Israel is under an obligation to agree to & facilitate relief schemes provided by the United Nations & its entities, in particular UNRWA.

⁠- Israel’s claim that UNRWA is infiltrated… pic.twitter.com/ibD5Wa084p

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 22, 2025

The International Court of Justice has affirmed that the State of Israel must agree to and facilitate UNRWA’s humanitarian operations in #Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory — not impede them.

The @‌CIJ_ICJ opinion is clear: UNRWA must be allowed to deliver. pic.twitter.com/P5vha9Akjv

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 23, 2025

The ban on UNRWA’s aid supplies, including hygiene kits, must be lifted. After two long years of war, people in #Gaza need the most basic items.

As the largest UN agency operating in the #Gaza Strip, by far, UNRWA has an unparalleled logistical network, longstanding trust from… pic.twitter.com/1tNgDqy8Bb

— UNRWA (@UNRWA) October 24, 2025

It’s an ongoing pressure campaign in which UNRWA and the ICJ claim that no one else can possibly provide aid in this region and the US is simply saying no to that demand. UNRWA is also claiming they are needed to resume schooling for the children of Gaza. But the schools in Gaza are notoriously awful and part of the problem.

Muslim Palestinian children in UNRWA 🇺🇳 schools:

“Stabbing Jews brings dignity to the Palestinians. We have to stab the Jews. They teach us that Jews are terrorists. I am ready to stab a jew and drive a car over them. I am ready to join ISIS” pic.twitter.com/ESxLGptAat

— Vivid.🇮🇱 (@VividProwess) October 23, 2025

Here’s Rubio’s full press conference. The question about UNRWA comes about 17 minutes in to this.

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